Bruno Fernandes’ future at Manchester United has once again been subject to major speculation, particularly after certain details of his contract were revealed.The 31-year-old’s contract with Man ...
Bruno Fernandes’ future at Manchester United has once again been subject to major speculation, particularly after certain details of his contract were revealed.
The 31-year-old’s contract with Man Utd runs until 2027, meaning the club only has this summer to pocket a massive transfer fee if their talisman is to leave.
Fernandes has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, where interested clubs were willing to part ways with a staggering £100 million to lure him across the desert.
That didn’t materialise, but they could get another chance to snap him up at slightly more than half their initial valuation of the Portuguese international midfielder.
According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Fernandes has a stunning £57m release clause in his contract, but it can only be triggered by clubs outside the Premier League.
There’s no doubt that this would be a massive blow for United if Fernandes leaves the club this summer, particularly for a fee that doesn’t fully reflect his status at Old Trafford.
Fernandes has been a cornerstone of United’s midfield since joining from Sporting CP in January 2020.
The Portuguese midfielder will go down as one of the most iconic winter additions after establishing himself as the creative engine of the team.
Fernandes was handed the captain’s armband in 2023 by then-manager Erik ten Hag.
By that point, he had become a fan favourite and has been a standout performer throughout the years, despite United’s well-documented fall from grace.
More than 300 appearances later, his durability and work rate remain remarkable. Fernandes has scored 103 goals and provided 99 assists in a United shirt over the past six years.
This season, he has already bagged five goals and 12 assists in the Premier League. He also has one assist in a massively disappointing FA Cup campaign.
In a side that is still struggling to find the consistency that re-establishes them firmly in the upper echelons of English football, Fernandes is still one of the few reliable performers.
Despite his importance, the Portuguese midfielder has repeatedly been heavily linked with a move away and reportedly came close to leaving the club in the summer of 2025.
Fernandes claimed some members of United’s top brass wanted him out of the club after receiving a mouth-watering sum from Saudi Pro League (SPL) powerhouse Al Hilal.
“The club wanted me to go, I have that in my head,” he said. “I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely like the club.
“From the club’s side, I felt a bit like, ‘if you leave, it’s not so bad for us.’ It hurts me a lot.
“More than hurting, it makes me sad because I’m a player they have nothing to criticise about. I’m always available, I always play, good or bad. I give my all.”
Fernandes added to his tally in the most recent 3-2 victory against Fulham, setting up Casemiro for the opener before assisting Benjamin Sesko for the last-minute winner.
That brace of assists took him up to 12 for the season. He’s on course to beat David Beckham’s record for most assists in a Premier League season by a United player, which has stood for 26 years (15 in 1999/00).
If he maintains his current form, he could also match Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry’s joint record for most assists in a Premier League season (20).
Fernandes has proven his worth time and again, but he could finally leave the club this summer after the exit clause in his contract was made public.
There are rumours that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is plotting another raid on Europe’s top five leagues, and Fernandes could be one of those to move across the desert.
If that happens, it’ll undoubtedly be a massive blow for United, particularly if they fail to bring in a player who can fill the void Fernandes’ exit would leave.
Category: General Sports
