Manchester United paid Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former club Molde a goodwill gesture of £500,000 this month as they finalised a deal to make the Norwegian the club’s new permanent manager.
The source understands United previously gifted Molde a £500,000 payment solely for the caretaker services of Solskjaer back in December. Contrary to reports, Molde did not receive a £7million compensation package.
United formally informed Solskjaer he would stay beyond the end of the season last week and the deal was finalised earlier this week. United players were told Solskjaer had been given the full-time managerial role on Wednesday night while Solskjaer celebrated by dining with his agent, Jim Solbakken, in Manchester.
Senior United sources insist it was a case of ‘the sooner, the better’ that Solskjaer was recognised as their fixed manager, rather than an interim option. The 46-year-old signed his three-year contract on Thursday morning. United’s 1-0 win at Spurs in January was viewed as a significant result by the club hierarchy behind their decision to name Solskjaer as Jose Mourinho’s successor.
Solskjaer is on a £7m-a-year deal with United, who paid Mourinho £15m in compensation three-and-a-half months ago. Former United striker Solskjaer, who claimed six Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and the Champions League during a garlanded 11-year playing career with the club, revealed it was his ‘dream job’ to assume the managerial post on a permanent basis.
In the opening statement at his press conference parading, Solskjaer stated: “When people get a new job and say ‘it’s a dream job’ they’ve had and have always dreamt about, playing for this club or managing this club, that’s more true to me than anyone.
“This has been my ultimate dream all the time, maybe a naive dream but I’ve always had that dream in my mind to have this responsibility for this this huge, fantastic, family of a football club, and I’m so honoured and privileged to be given this fantastic responsibility to lead us forward,
“I don’t think proud is right word, I’m happy, honoured, because it’s a fresh start, the start of something new again and now the hard work starts, the enjoyable work, so it isn’t a moment to be proud in that respect.”