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When Bruno Fernandes joined Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, not even Portuguese fans would have foreseen the impact he’s had on the club.
From a relative unknown, Fernandes has become the key player for the Red Devils. Whether it’s been under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Ralf Rangnick or Erik ten Hag, Bruno has often been the man who gets the goal or assist to help United whenever they need it. His impact has been so immense on the club that he’s now become the club captain.
However, the past few weeks has seen an increasing amount of speculation that Fernandes may be set to leave the club in the summer. The likes of Barcelona as well as Bayern Munich and the Saudi Pro League have all been rumoured to be looking at signing the Portuguese star. This has caused fear among Red Devils fans as Fernandes’ presence has been clearly felt in the two games he’s missed recently. United got destroyed 4-0 by Crystal Palace and looked a blunt tool in attack in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal. As soon as Fernandes returned for the Newcastle United game, the whole team looked transformed in an attacking sense as the team scored 3 goals while beating the Magpies.
Now, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has provided an updated on the future of Bruno Fernandes at United. The journalist was a guest on Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE YouTube channel and was responding to the speculation surrounding the United captain at present.
According to Ornstein, Fernandes held a long meeting with the club at their Carrington training ground this week. In that meeting, United officials told Bruno that they wanted him to stay and the player responded the same. However, his desire to stay at the club is conditional to United meeting his expectations and providing a clear vision that he thinks will be delivered. The Portuguese international is willing to stay but needs the club to provide concrete evidence that they’re making the steps to go where they say they want to go.
Ornstein mentions that the situation does leave the door slightly ajar because Fernandes is implying that if the club don’t satisfy his desires and/or if a pretty substantial offer comes in that United would consider, then perhaps a move away isn’t completely out of the question. However, Ornstein says that’s not expected and the firm anticipation from the Carrington meeting is that both parties are on the same page that Bruno will remain at the club for the foreseeable future.
Manchester United fans will be delighted with that positive news and will be hoping that the hierarchy can put the wheels in motion to show their captain that they’re serious about returning United to the top of the footballing tree.
David Ornstein: Bruno Fernandes’ desire to stay at Manchester United is conditional on the club meeting his expectations and showing him a vision pic.twitter.com/OPV8BzJlSC
— FIVE (@FIVEUK) May 16, 2024
