Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has made his call. According to talkSPORT, the Portuguese midfielder has already told teammates and people close to him that he intends to remain at Old Trafford for at least another season. This comes after months of speculation about his future, with Saudi Arabian clubs circling and his contract entering its final year.
It’s not hard to see why United fans were nervous. Fernandes just finished one of the best individual seasons in the club’s modern history. He set a Premier League record with 21 assists, won the FWA Footballer of the Year and the league’s Player of the Season awards, and picked up a fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year trophy — more than any player before him. He also became only the third man after Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs to hit 100 goals and 100 assists for the club.
But here’s where it gets interesting. The 31-year-old never actually held formal talks with United about his future before the World Cup. The club has an option to extend his deal by another year, but that hasn’t stopped the noise. Last summer, he was heavily linked with a move to the Middle East. Former manager Ruben Amorim reportedly talked him out of leaving then. Amorim is gone now, replaced by Michael Carrick, who moved Fernandes back into the No. 10 role — a decision that unlocked his best form yet.
And that form has carried straight into the World Cup. Fernandes set up a goal in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan on Tuesday. He looks like a guy who’s still enjoying his football.
Saudi dealmakers had hoped the World Cup might soften him up, that after another summer of rumors he’d finally be ready to cash in. But according to the report, Fernandes has made his intentions clear to the people who matter most. He plans to stay.
That’s huge for United. INEOS is already working on a busy summer. The club reportedly has a deal in place for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, and more signings are expected. But none of that matters if the engine room is going to be rebuilt around a guy who’s already checked out. Fernandes is the opposite of checked out.
United want to compete with Europe’s best again. They don’t get there without him. The message from the captain is clear. Now it’s on the front office to get the paperwork done, lock him down, and stop leaving the door cracked open every transfer window.
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