Bruno Fernandes has rejected a second contract offer from Manchester United, leaving his future at the club increasingly uncertain. The 32-year-old's current deal runs out at the end of the season, though United hold a one-year option in their favour that would prevent him from leaving on a free transfer. They also have a clause that stops him from discussing a move with foreign clubs in January.
Fernandes has now twice turned down improved terms, but United remain confident that an agreement will be reached for a player who has won the club's Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award a record five times. His refusal to sign, however, does not suggest a player committed to the cause or one who sees his long-term future in Manchester.
Contract Stalemate and Relegation Worries
Fernandes is already well paid, and a new deal would essentially be a show of faith in the direction the club is heading. United currently sit in the relegation zone, which hardly signals progress to their best player. The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino could change things quickly, though Fernandes has seen many new managers promise brighter days before.
He has previously been linked with an exit, having turned down offers from Saudi Arabia several summers ago. While he has been the standout performer on the red side of Manchester for years, he is not without his critics. Some see him as a one-man band whose exploits are not always with the team in mind, and his attitude and conduct have also been questioned.
The Case for Keeping Fernandes
For many observers, the bottom line is that no club has ever sold its best player and seen that as a route to success. The numbers without Fernandes would paint a horrific picture for United. He broke the Premier League record for assists in a single season last term and scored double-digit goals in each of his first six seasons at the club, a run that ended last season when he scored nine times.
Many of those have been big goals, and it is Fernandes who has consistently stood up when the chips are down in Manchester. Gary Neville has cited him as, by far, the best signing of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. He has also adapted to a host of different systems and largely still performed. Plenty argue that if he were in a Pep Guardiola Manchester City team, his reputation would be very different.
The Case for Selling Fernandes
Despite his individual brilliance, there are those who ask more pointed questions. How good is he really, given the team around him? Would any decent player have made the impact he had in Manchester given how poor the team were? Does his quality come at the expense of the overall plan at United?
Jamie Carragher recently suggested that Fernandes' one-man band approach might get the crowd on side when they see him pressing solo, but if he is stepping outside the team structure, it may not be productive. He is often seen running from side to side demanding the ball, but the team might benefit more from him excelling in his role and allowing others to do theirs.
There is also the question of his attitude. What some see as driving standards, others see as toxic. The image of Fernandes throwing his arms up and lamenting his teammates is familiar to regular United viewers. He also showed he is not afraid to criticise his manager, as he did with Michael Carrick after the loss at Como. Roy Keane never shied away from speaking publicly, but he did so from a position of power. Criticising your manager's instructions while on a winless run is not endearing.
Finally, in a squad whose assets have largely devalued since arriving at Old Trafford, Fernandes could still command top dollar. With the team needing a major overhaul, Pochettino may see that as cash to aid a rebuild.
