Bruno Fernandes could leave Manchester United for £57m this summer (Image: Getty)
Where would Manchester United be without Bruno Fernandes? It’s a question that gets asked often, but one that feels more appropriate this season given the club captain’s performance and how he came close to leaving the club last summer.
Fernandes has provided 16 assists in the Premier League so far and needs just four in his last seven games to equal the record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. He is looking to win various player of the year awards. But he could have achieved all of this in Saudi Arabia had things played out a little differently after last season’s Europa League final.
Al Hilal were prepared to offer United around £100m last summer and were also prepared to pay Fernandes a reported weekly wage of £700,000. After weeks of consideration, Fernandes rejected the payday and decided to remain at Old Trafford, but clearly the matter left an indelible impression.
Fernandes revealed in an interview in Portugal in December that United “wanted me to leave”, implying he was kept in the dark about the club’s true intentions, an assessment not disputed by anyone at Old Trafford. United finished 15th in the Premier League, lost the Europa League final and were in need of a major rebuild. It was believed that such a sum could be transformative for a player entering his 30s.
Fernandes has chosen to stay after speaking with his family and his status as a club legend appears to have been secured this season. If I arrived last summer with some trepidation about what my employer would think, this time I have no doubts.
Fernandes has been told by United decision-makers in recent weeks that they want him to stay, and that message has been made very clear to the Portugal international. They will do so at any cost. There is no ambiguity this year.
However, this does not solve the problem. Fernandes’ contract has a release clause of around £57 million, which is only available to overseas clubs. He is expected to consider his next move this summer and decide on his future after the World Cup.
United will seek guidance from their captain before the tournament. Losing him would require a major change in transfer strategy and the difficult task of replacing the Premier League’s best attacking midfielder. Old Trafford officials believe proving to Fernandes that the club is moving in the right direction will help convince him that his future lies there.
Things have been on a good trajectory recently, with Fernandes at the center of a remarkable resurgence under manager Michael Carrick as United aim to return to the Champions League next season. It’s a stage that Fernandes aspires to, and one that’s definitely worth playing for. He is too good to play in the Europa League or Conference League.
During his six-and-a-half year spell at United, he appeared in just 19 Champions League games and just two in the knockout stages. Only the FA Cup and League Cup celebrate his extraordinary achievements. But who United choose as their next manager, whether Carrick or a replacement head coach, will be crucial to their progress from this summer onwards.
Bruno Fernandes has eight goals and 17 assists so far this season. (Image: Getty)
Paris Saint-Germain tried to sign Fernandes in the summer of 2024, but some of Europe’s top clubs could come back to talks, especially now that they are aware of the costs associated with facilitating a deal.
However, he turns 32 in September and no matter how good his latest season has been, £57 million is still a hefty sum for a player of his age. No resale value. And his salary will be considerable.
Having dedicated so much of his career to his favorite clubs, there is a feeling that winning one big trophy with United would be more valuable than winning a quick Ligue 1 title with PSG or a Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich.
The question will be whether United can prove to manager Fernandes sooner rather than later that they are making the necessary progress to compete for the Premier League or even the Champions League.
For the third consecutive summer, Fernandes’ future will be under intense scrutiny over the coming months. This time he is fully aware of United’s position. Now United are waiting for Fernandes to see how this situation will play out.
