Manchester City squad chase collective bonuses of around £15million with Champions League glory

Manchester City squad chase Euro millions bonus of around £15m… with club stars Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and David Silva set to earn £1m EACH if they win the Champions League

  • Manchester City host Real Madrid on Friday as the Champions League returns
  • They hold a one-goal lead after a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu, earned in February  
  • The Champions League is the only trophy yet to be won under Pep Guardiola 
  • Bonuses are individually stipulated in each Manchester City player’s contract 

Manchester City’s players have an added incentive of around £15million in collective bonuses as they hunt European glory.

City host Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on Friday as the Champions League returns, with Pep Guardiola’s side in the driving seat to reach the quarter-finals.

They hold a one-goal lead after a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu, earned in February before coronavirus halted the season. 

Manchester City’s players have an incentive of around £15million in collective bonuses

Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne could stand to earn £1m if Man City win the Champions League

Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne could stand to earn £1m if Man City win the Champions League

A positive result at home against the Spanish champions would see them face Juventus or Lyon in the last eight in Lisbon on August 15.

Some of the club’s top players, such as midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and David Silva, stand to earn in the region of £1m if they lift the trophy. 

City’s bonus structure is not, however, an old-fashioned ‘pot’ of money to be shared among the squad. Bonuses are individually stipulated in each player’s contract.

City host Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on Friday and hold a one-goal lead from first leg

City host Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on Friday and hold a one-goal lead from first leg

By comparison, the club’s payouts for clinching the Premier League title range from around £400,000 to £750,000 per man.

The Champions League is the only trophy yet to be won under Guardiola and City have never gone beyond the quarter-finals during his reign. 

He has used team meetings to remind his players of perceived refereeing injustices in the three previous campaigns as extra motivation this time around. They are favourites this year — alongside Bayern Munich — ahead of the competition’s resumption and its conclusion in Portugal. 

The Champions League is the only trophy yet to be won by Man City under Pep Guardiola

The Champions League is the only trophy yet to be won by Man City under Pep Guardiola

City’s players will be rewarded handsomely should they win the club’s first European silverware for 50 years. That quest starts on Friday, with Gareth Bale omitted from Real’s travelling party.

Eden Hazard is a doubt to as he has an ankle problem.

Meanwhile, Guardiola is planning for how best to narrow the gap to Liverpool next season, with the club on Wednesday night confirming the signing of defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £40m, on a five-year deal.

The club also confirmed the signing of defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £40m

The club also confirmed the signing of defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £40m

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