The future of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been plunged into fresh uncertainty following the club's decision to sack manager Ruben Amorim.
Amorim's Crucial Role in Keeping Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes, 31, was actively exploring a departure from Old Trafford during the summer transfer window of 2025, a move that was only thwarted by the direct intervention of then-boss Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese midfielder had received a colossal offer from Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal, who were prepared to pay United a staggering £100 million transfer fee.
On a personal level, the deal was even more eye-watering, with Al-Hilal tabling a contract worth an estimated £200 million to Fernandes. Speaking in June, Fernandes admitted, "[Amorim] was very annoying to me not to go. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave." This highlighted the strong bond between player and manager, a relationship now severed by Amorim's dismissal.
A Feeling of Hurt and a Pivotal Revelation
The depth of Fernandes's connection to his compatriot was underscored just a day after the sacking was announced, when he was photographed leaving a coffee shop in Cheshire with Carlos Fernandes, Amorim's trusted assistant who was also let go by the club.
In a revealing interview last month with Canal 11, Fernandes opened up about feeling "hurt" and "sad" by the perception that United's hierarchy were open to his sale. "From the club I felt it was, 'If you go it's not so bad for us'," the former Sporting Lisbon star confessed.
He elaborated, stating, "The club wanted me to leave. I told the directors that, I think they didn't have the courage to make that decision because the manager wanted me. But if I said I wanted to leave, even with the manager wanting me to stay, the club would let me." Despite this, his love for United led him to reject the lucrative move, citing family reasons and genuine affection for the club.
What Happens Next for United's Captain?
With Amorim's influential voice now absent from the United dugout, the path for Al-Hilal—or another suitor—to finally secure Fernandes's signature appears clearer. While a January move is possible, a summer transfer in 2026 seems more probable, a timeline hinted at by Fernandes himself in October.
At that time, he addressed speculation, saying, "I've seen a lot of people talking that I had an agreement to go already next season. If the club has done that agreement, it wasn't made with me." He confirmed he had held no talks and would not do so until after the upcoming World Cup.
The managerial situation now becomes critical. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the man who originally signed Fernandes for £67.7m in January 2020, is a leading candidate to take interim charge. If appointed and subsequently successful, Solskjaer would likely fight to retain his captain as part of his long-term plans. The coming weeks at Old Trafford will be decisive in determining whether Bruno Fernandes remains the cornerstone of United's future or becomes their next high-profile exit.
