- Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is in red-hot form
- Galatasaray showing interest
- The Portuguese playmaker’s contract is up in 2027
Turkish side Galatasaray have reportedly made contact with the representatives of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes for a summer transfer.
According to Turkish journalist Burhan Can Terzi via Forza Cinbom, the current Super Lig champions have “made contact” with the camps of Fernandes and also Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva. The Istanbul club already have former City players Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane within their ranks.
The speculation comes at a time when he is enjoying one of his best spells at the club. He has so far registered 16 assists and scored 8 goals in the Premier League this season. Recently, he surpassed David Beckham’s longstanding assist record in one season with seven games yet to play.
United Might be Willing to Move on
Last summer, he was weighing up leaving Old Trafford, having received communications from the Saudi side Al Hilal. After persuasion from his family and then-manager Ruben Amorim, he decided to stay at the Theatre of Dreams.
It is difficult to imagine just how well United would have done, even under Carrick, without Fernandes in this side. Under Amorim, he was happy to drop deeper into a midfield pivot and master the art of discipline. With Carrick at the helm, he has enjoyed a more familiar role and thrived there.
He always demands more from his teammates and, most of all, from himself. His personality on the pitch makes him a marmite-like player for fans of the game to either love or hate.
There is a £56.7m release clause in Fernandes’ contract, but it is only valid for clubs outside of the Premier League. Earlier this season, the Portuguese admitted in an interview that he was ‘hurt’ by United’s willingness to let him go to Saudi. An offer never arrived, but it is telling signs that INEOS are willing to part ways with the captain.
As part of INEOS’ crackdown on players’ high wages, Fernandes should be treated as an exception. His importance to the side in its darkest years is a testament to his quality and loyalty on and off the pitch.
Uncertainty Beyond Summer at Old Trafford
There is generally a massive sense of uncertainty around many things at United. Whether or not Michael Carrick is signed as the permanent manager is one issue. The other is who replaces Casemiro, with many name already linked. The future of rotation players are likely to be assessed, whilst outcasts on loan such as Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Holjlund will be moved on.
It might feel like the right time for Fernandes to also leave, given that his contract ends in June 2027 with the option of a further year. It will be a hot topic of conversation this summer. However, Fernandes should be allowed to leave on his own terms for the services he has given to the club in his peak years. Unfortunately football does not always work like that.
As someone who worships playing football, Galatasaray is a hardcore club that Fernandes would probably love to play for. If an offer formally comes in, he may find it harder to ignore than the one from Saudi Arabia.
