Gary Neville acknowledges he took a ‘risk’ with his financial situation when he signed his first contract with Manchester United, but he believes the way he spent his money was ‘the best investment’ he could have made.
Nevile, who was part of the famous Class of 1992 that won the FA Youth Cup that year alongside younger brother Phil, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, and Paul Scholes, signed professional contracts with United after leaving school at the age of 16 in 1991. The elder Neville remained a one-club man throughout his playing career, retiring in 2011 after 602 senior appearances and 85 England caps, and becoming a wealthy man in the process – but his initial contract at Manchester United was not what a highly rated teenage prospect would expect to earn today.
Gary Neville’s calculated gamble pays off
Adjusting for inflation, Neville purchased a house worth approximately £343,000 in today’s money after accepting a contract that initially paid him the modern equivalent of £22,700 per year, relying on his capacity to succeed in his professional career. (If we applied housing inflation rates rather than general inflation, that property would today be worth approximately £628,000.)
Speaking on Sky Bet’s Stick to Football, Neville stated, “Your own house is the best investment [you could make]. “To be honest, when you consider that it is becoming increasingly difficult for anyone to purchase a property in the country – which is a separate conversation to have – but if you can own your own home, what a start in life.
