Man United should not entertain any offers for Bruno Fernandes unless they receive one that is simply too good to turn down.
Following Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday night’s Europa League final, Bruno Fernandes revealed he will leave Old Trafford if the club decides to sell him this summer.
Brennan Johnson’s first half winner at the San Mames Stadium was enough to clinch Spurs their first trophy since 2008, meaning United, as a result, will go without European football for the first time since the 2014/15 campaign next season.
After a wretched Premier League campaign, both Spurs and United were desperate to seal a backdoor route into next season’s Champions League to compete with Europe’s elite and boost their respective finances.
United desperately needed Champions League qualification to increase head coach Ruben Amorim’s transfer budget to make the rebuild he plans to oversee this summer that little bit easier.
Instead, United are likely to find the transfer market harder to navigate, with their revenue streams impacted as a result of failing to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition. It means they will have to be shrew with their recruitment, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.
United are planning for the number of departures to reach double figures this summer, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony, each of whom are currently out on loan, being identified as priority sales. The likes of Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen are poised to be released when their contracts expire.
However, United, to boost their transfer kitty, could be forced into making some ruthless decisions. Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, who both started the Europa League final on the bench, could be sold.
But despite Fernandes’ declaration that he will go if United need to sell him, chief executive Omar Berrada’s comments about United’s recruitment plans earlier this year suggest that will not be the case, unless, of course, an offer comes along that is too good to turn down.
“So just because we’ll have more revenues to invest if we’re in the Champions League, it doesn’t mean we’re going to go and over-invest,” he said, speaking at the unveiling of United’s new stadium plans in March. “We need to be cautious and, and we need to try to make as many good decisions as we can in recruitment.
“And also when it comes to sales, we will do it purely on the basis of whether it helps improve the team or not, not for financial reasons.”
Berrada’s point on sales ought to see United put a hands-off notice on Fernandes. He has been their best player yet again this season, scoring 19 goals, and deciding to sell him would instantly weaken Amorim’s starting XI and squad.
The United captain, who is reportedly of interest to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, has been a beacon of light in a dark and miserable season for the Reds. His goals in the Premier League have directly earned United five points and he finished the Europa League campaign as the competition’s joint-top leading goalscorer with seven.
Of course, if a mega-money offer is submitted that United simply cannot afford to turn down, then they must consider it for a player who will turn 31 later this year. But unless that happens, his importance to the team is more valuable than a financial offer that is unlikely to be enough to replace Fernandes with a player of equal quality.
Both Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Amorim have already waxed lyrical about Fernandes, outlining his importance and brilliance, meaning an exit is highly unlikely.
And with Berrada already stating that decisions on outgoing players will rest on their importance to the team and not financial reasons, United should not be planning to let their captain go.
2025-05-23 12:30:00
