At a Glance
- Fernandes is wowing at Manchester United
- Nicky Butt urges INEOS to keep him
- The Portuguese’s contract situation
Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has urged the club to keep captain Bruno Fernandes at all costs. The Portuguese playmaker is enjoying arguably his best season at the Theatre of Dreams.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast alongside Paul Scholes, the pair discussed their former club’s recent 3-1 win against Aston Villa.
Butt and Scholes have been a topic of interest in recent weeks. They were embroiled in a verbal war with United defender Lisandro Martinez. The duo mocked the Argentinian’s height, before Butt told him to ‘grow up’ after Martinez responded to the criticism.
Fernandes has ‘carried’ United
Butt admitted he has at times criticised Fernandes as a leader. He compared the Portuguese player’s leadership style to the likes of the combative Tony Adams and Roy Keane. Butt highlighted the 31-year-old’s ‘mannerisms’ as a flaw which has followed Fernandes during his time in England.
However, he was quick to praise the United captain for his excellent form, despite a rollercoaster season for the team. Fernandes has 7 goals and 17 assists in 29 games across all competitions.
Butt said:
“He’s carried that football team, pretty much on his own, for I’d say a good two years, two seasons.”
Fernandes’ two assists against Aston Villa have earned him a deserving nomination for the Premier League Player of the Week award. He has won the award five times during his Old Trafford spell.
Can United afford to let Fernandes go?
Fernandes was close to leaving United this summer when he was presented with a huge verbal offer from Saudi side Al-Hilal. He cited his desire to ‘play at the highest level’ as a reason to stay, much to fans’ relief.
In a bombshell December interview, the midfielder admitted that United were willing to let him leave, leaving him feeling ‘hurt’. At the time, he said:
“I could have left in this transfer window, I would have earned much more money. I would have won many trophies this season, but I decided not to go, not only for family reasons but because I genuinely love the club.”
Speaking on the podcast, Butt highlighted: “Manchester United can’t let him go. They’ll have to give him anything he wants to keep him. If they let him go, the fans will go absolute nuts.”
Fernandes and the contract situation
Fernandes’ contract with the Red Devils expires in the summer of 2027. It will be a hot topic going into next summer’s transfer window as United seek midfield reinforcements.
He currently earns £290,000 a week, making him one of the club’s highest earners. The Portugal international may well demand a pay rise given his importance.
It will be a big summer of change as the club seeks a permanent manager and a replacement for Casemiro. The 34-year-old’s contract expires in the summer, and he will not be renewing his contract as United looks to cut costs.
Fortunately, the impending exits of Casemiro, Jason Sancho and Marcus Rashford in the summer should lessen the overall wage bill. It makes a stronger case for renewing Fernandes’ contract at a wage similar to his current deal.
