Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is not ruling out a future move to the A-League.
Bruno Fernandes, who joined Manchester United in January 2020 from Sporting CP in a £68m deal, signed a new contract in August which runs until the summer of 2027, with the option for a further year.
In his five years at Old Trafford, the Portugal international has made 264 appearances in all competitions, scoring 87 goals.
The 30-year-old enjoyed success under Erik ten Hag, winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, but he also came close to winning the Europa League final in 2021 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Fernandes is one of a few United players not to be linked with a move away in January, but the Portuguese Magnifico is considering his long-term future after conversations with former team-mates.
Bruno Fernandes keen on A-League
The lifestyle of a former United team-mate has encouraged Fernandes to consider a potential move to Australia’s A-League.
Still playing at the highest level in the Premier League, the idea of Fernandes dropping to a lower league is an unlikely one at this moment in time.
Fernandes has revealed that he has spoken to Juan Mata, who signed with Western Sydney Wanderers last year, about what it is like to live in Australia.
“I still talk with him to improve certain things that he thinks can help me and I’m very happy to have someone like him that’s done great things in the world of football to have words with me,” Fernandes told Optus Sport.
“He’s really happy to be there (in Australia). He’s been only telling me good things.
“He’s someone that you can feel how happy he is in a place and I think at the moment Juan is that kind of person.
“He’s been telling me he probably regrets not coming earlier in his career to Australia.”
Mata has been sending Fernandes footage from Australia, featuring improved weather conditions to what the pair endured during their time together in Manchester.
He added: “After the videos that he sends me about the lifestyle, about playing golf, being on the beach, the stadium, all the fans, the conditions that he has at the club and everything, I could think about (playing in Australia).
“Obviously at Christmas time I was here with a lot of wind and cold and he was sending me videos of the sun and him living in front of the beach – it was beautiful.
“If he’s still there living it will be an even better option because he told he’s in love with the country and the culture.”
Nobody at Manchester United is safe
Manchester United find themselves in an uncertain situation financially after years of mismanagement from the Glazers.
Ineos are trying to balance the books by introducing cost-cutting strategies across the board. Among the cuts are 250 staff redundancies.
With that, several United first-team members have been linked with moves away from Old Trafford. It doesn’t look like anyone is safe with Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly willing to cash in on United Academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho.
The same may apply to Fernandes – if the price is right…
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the team right now, and Ruben Amorim has big decisions to make between now and the summer.
Fernandes is a fans’ favourite so any decision to sell him would be unpopular.
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