Manchester United have told Bruno Fernandes that the club will do everything to keep him at Old Trafford this summer.
Fernandes rejected a move to Al-Hilal last June worth a staggering £700,000 a week, and revealed in December that he was ‘hurt’ United were prepared to sell him to the Saudi Pro League side for £100million. But after United reaffirmed that Casemiro will be allowed to leave at the end of his contract in three months’ time, sources have told Confidential that a unanimous decision has been made to try and keep Fernandes.
It’s understood that United’s talismanic captain has been informed of the club’s stance since he aired his concerns in a Portuguese TV interview before Christmas. The problems at United that peaked in January and cost Ruben Amorim his job were said to be weighing Fernandes down, but the 31-year-old has appeared much happier recently as he has led the revival under Michael Carrick.
Fernandes’ two assists in Sunday’s win over Aston Villa broke David Beckham’s record in a single season for United (Fernandes now has 16), and also put him in an elite club with Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney as the only three players to register a century of both goals and assists for the club in the Premier League era.
United only have so much control over Fernandes’ future because there is a release clause of £56.68m in his contract that can be triggered by foreign clubs. While that may deter some European teams from signing a player who turns 32 in September and has little resale value, it would not be a problem for the Saudis.
Al-Hilal were prepared to offer £100m because they were desperate to sign Fernandes for last year’s Club World Cup, which began in June before the clause came into effect, and there is expected to be renewed interest from the Middle East this summer.
Manchester United are determined to keep Bruno Fernandes at the club next season. The captain has racked up a whopping 16 assists in the Premier League this season
But they accept that Casemiro, despite the Brazilian’s fine season, will depart in the summer
Fernandes is known to have considered a move to one of Europe’s big five leagues, and sources close to the Portugal star say he will assess the situation after the World Cup.
If Fernandes stays at Old Trafford, United may have to offer him a new contract this summer. His current deal will have one year left to run, although the…