At one point in the summer window, there appeared to be a very real possibility that Manchester United’s talisman could be on his way out of Old Trafford.
With almost no one safe from the Ineos axe – except rising stars Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund – reports linking Bruno Fernandes with a mega-money switch to Saudi Arabia just wouldn’t go away at the start of the off-season.
And while the Portugal star would obviously have been a massive loss for Manchester United both on and off the pitch, the chance to bring in a colossal fee for a soon-to-be 29-year-old on an expiring contract would have led to some very difficult conversations amongst a new backroom team who had inherited a financial mess when completing their partial takeover.
Much to the relief of the vast majority of Manchester United supporters, the window closed with Fernandes still wearing red.
Not only that, the captain also signed a new deal. One that should keep him at Old Trafford until the summer of 2027 at the least.
And for Dan Ashworth, Man United’s newly-hired sporting director, keeping a player of Fernandes’ quality and influence was just as important as – if not more so – the deals which brought Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte to the North West.
Bruno Fernandes earns new Manchester United contract
“We had 32 transactions (over the summer window) and there were four new contracts,” Ashworth says, via The Mirror. “Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans, Bruno and Toby Collyer, who I think was slightly before my time.
“Retaining your best talent (is important). And, Bruno, clearly, had an unbelievable season. He’s been brilliant since he’s been here.
“His game availability is fantastic, his output is brilliant, his output on and off the pitch is really good well, the influence he brings to the other players as captain, so I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“(Keeping him) was a crucial part of the transfer strategy as well.”
A natural leader of the men and never afraid to front up to criticism, Bruno Fernandes was the first to face the media after all the early-season optimism surrounding Man United’s prospects dissipated during Sunday’s crushing 3-0 home defeat to arch rivals Liverpool.
While manager Erik ten Hag pointedly opted to blame individual mistakes rather than his kamikaze gameplan, Fernandes had no interest in selling Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo down the river after the midfield duo lost possession in the build up to all three of Liverpool’s goals.
Fernandes defends Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo
“We don’t need to be pointing fingers at everyone. That won’t help us now,” Fernandes told MUTV. “What’s the point in saying Casemiro lost the ball or Kobbie lost the ball?
“They lost the ball because they wanted to be brave. It’s part of football. Don’t make it individual.
“Casemiro is more experienced than me. I don’t need to tell him anything, he knows what football is about. He’s played for the two best clubs in the world (Real Madrid and United). Kobbie is an excellent kid. I want him to try more and do this because it’s part of his game.
“They are huge players for us and will keep being.”
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