Manchester United are holding contract talks with Bruno Fernandes after Galatasaray submitted a £17million bid for the club captain. The 31-year-old Portugal international is in the final year of his current deal, although United hold an option to extend it by a further 12 months.
Fernandes keen to stay
Fernandes, who last signed fresh terms two years ago this month, has a £56million release clause for foreign clubs that lapsed earlier in the summer window. According to The Athletic, the midfielder wants to remain at Old Trafford, and United are adamant that no clubs have made contact over a move.
Al-Hilal previously made overtures to Fernandes, who rejected the Saudi Pro League side last year. Speaking about that interest, he said: "I could have left as many people do and said: 'I want to leave, I don't want to train, I just want to leave for €20million or €30million, so they pay me more on the other side', but I never did that."
Previous frustrations
Fernandes also expressed disappointment at the club's stance during that period, saying: "The club wanted me to go; I have that in my head. I told the directors this, but I think they didn't have the courage to make that decision." He added: "I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely like the club. The conversation with the manager also made me stay. But, from the club's side, I felt a bit like, 'If you leave, it's not so bad for us'. It hurts me a lot."
Earlier this summer, Fernandes spoke of the responsibility of playing for United: "Playing for Manchester United is always a special moment for everyone. At the same time, it brings a lot of responsibility with it. But I don't think anyone comes to Manchester United thinking that we won't have the responsibility to win again, to be at the top of Premier League, at the top of European football."
Looking ahead
He added: "I think everyone always believes that we can be the ones who are going to do this, the ones who are going to turn the page, the ones who are going to make it possible for United to fight on all fronts. And I think that has to be special for us players, to realise that we can be the main, let's say, protagonists of this change of history for United to win again."
The outcome of the contract discussions will determine whether Fernandes remains at the club beyond this season, with the option to extend his stay by another year still available to United.
