- Bruno Fernandes was close to leaving Manchester United last year
- Midfielder has been a standout performer in Premier League
- Experience is invaluable in an expected summer of big change
Last summer, Manchester United were reluctant to say no to the possibility of captain Bruno Fernandes departing the club.
The 31-year-old thought carefully about an offer from Saudi side Al Nassr. The club were prepared to offer £80m for the United captain, and reunited him with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Ruben Amorim and Fernandes’ wife persuaded him to stay in England.
The Portuguese midfielder later revealed in an interview that he was ‘hurt’ by the club’s willingness to let him leave if a big offer came in.
This summer, the stance is much clearer from the club’s perspective. Bruno Fernandes won’t be for sale.
Manchester United Want to Keep Bruno Fernandes
According to Samuel Luckhurst of The Sun, Manchester United have made it clear to Bruno Fernandes that they do not want him to leave Old Trafford “under any circumstances”.
Despite the captain turning 32 this September, club officials have assured him that he remains the “centre of a successful United side.” This renewed confidence in the Portuguese midfielder stems from his exceptional form this season. He has already scored 8 goals and provided 19 assists across all competitions, and close to breaking the all-time Premier League record for assists.
Fernandes’ contract reportedly includes a £56.5m release clause applicable to overseas clubs. However, United management views the figure as irrelevant so long as the player’s heart remains in Manchester. By positioning him as the cornerstone of their long-term project, the club hopes to ward off interest from abroad and secure their talisman’s future at the Theatre of Dreams.
Lukhurst writes that “the club hierarchy believe his future should be assured with Champions League qualification”. The Reds are in touching distance of mathematically securing qualification in Europe’s elite competition. Five points from the last five fixtures will secure their place, but favourable results elsewhere could fast-track things.
Fernandes Overdue for Accolades
Individual accolades for Bruno Fernandes feel very overdue. He is widely recognised as United’s most successful signing of the post-Ferguson era. This season, Fernandes is leading the race for the PFA Player of the Year award after recently overtaking Arsenal’s Declan Rice in the probability charts. While he has lifted the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, these collective honours are tame in comparison to United team’s of the past.
In any other era, Bruno Fernandes would already be a legend at the club. Former teammate Paul Pogba recently suggested that if Bruno were playing under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, his output would comfortably place him in the Ballon d’Or top three.
INEOS will be carefully navigating a big summer of personnel at Old Trafford this summer. Whether or not Michael Carrick is still around next season is irrelevant in this matter. United’s decision to keep their captain is the smartest move they will make in months. His experience and quality are what will carry this Manchester United side into four competitions at the elite level in 2026/27 and beyond.
