Rene Meulensteen has urged incoming Manchester United manager Mauricio Pochettino to 'move on' from club captain Bruno Fernandes, saying he would not be sad if the midfielder left Old Trafford.
Pochettino will take charge of the United States' two games against Haiti before starting his role as United boss, having signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to replace Michael Carrick. His first Premier League match in charge of the Red Devils will be away to Liverpool on November 22.
Meulensteen's Verdict on Fernandes
'In terms of Bruno, Bruno has been a fantastic servant for Manchester United over many, many years,' Meulensteen told talkSPORT. 'He's not hit the same levels this year round. I think he's also been, to some extent, maybe even mentally damaged by all the negativity that has surrounded the club and himself.'
'To be fairly honest, I think he's been a great servant, but I would not be too sad if he decided to leave the club. I think there's many more people, more players that I think need to move on, and we need to create a different kind of dynamism in the team.'
Fernandes won the PFA Players' Player of the Year last year after a strong second half of the season under Carrick, but has not reached those levels so far this campaign.
Contract Situation and Potential Replacements
The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, with The Athletic reporting that the midfielder recently turned down a second contract offer from the club. Fernandes can talk to foreign clubs about a potential free transfer from January, but United do have the option to trigger a 12-month extension until the summer of 2028.
United are also said to be considering a move for Como midfielder Nico Paz if they decide to part ways with Fernandes in the coming months. Pochettino may hope the January transfer window offers a chance to reshape his squad after a disappointing summer window left several holes in the squad.
