Manchester United have no intention of letting captain Bruno Fernandes leave, according to a new report from The Daily Express. This follows an earlier exclusive from CaughtOffside, which suggested there was an internal division at Old Trafford over whether this summer is the right time to sell Fernandes before his market value drops.
The reasoning behind the CaughtOffside report is simple. Sources told journalist Mark Brus that some at United believe selling now makes sense, pointing to Liverpool’s situation with Mohamed Salah. Liverpool gave Salah a two-year extension, only to watch his form dip, and now face losing him for nothing. Some United decision-makers reportedly fear a similar situation if they aren’t careful with their veteran playmaker.
However, The Daily Express update insists United’s stance is firm. Club officials have told Fernandes directly that they won’t sell him this summer, delivering the message in a way that leaves no room for doubt. The club wants Fernandes to lead the team as they continue to improve under Michael Carrick.
The real problem is a release clause in Fernandes’ contract worth roughly £57 million that only applies to clubs outside England. This means PSG, Bayern Munich, or Saudi Pro League teams could trigger the move regardless of United’s wishes, leaving the final decision entirely up to Fernandes.
While PSG and Bayern have shown interest, Saudi clubs remain the biggest financial threat. Last summer, Al-Hilal reportedly offered £100 million for the transfer and £700,000 a week in wages. Fernandes turned it down for sporting and family reasons, but the landscape at Old Trafford has shifted. United are now on track for a return to the Champions League, which is a tournament Fernandes has only played in 19 times during his six years at the club. That chance to play at the top level might be United’s best tool to keep him.
The stats back up his importance. Fernandes has eight goals and 16 assists in 28 Premier League games this season. He also broke David Beckham’s record for assists in a single United season, proving he hasn’t slowed down.
Do Manchester United actually need Bruno Fernandes for next season, and what happens in the summer?
The short answer is yes. With 106 goals and over 100 assists in 320 games, Fernandes is only the third player, after Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs, to hit those milestones for the club. Even at 31, he is the engine of the United attack. No one else in the squad can replicate his output, and Carrick’s progress would likely stall without him.
He isn’t perfect; he can be inconsistent when United struggle to get him the ball, and he still takes too many low-percentage shots. But unlike Salah, Fernandes relies on vision and passing rather than raw pace. Playmakers usually age better than speed-reliant wingers, and the data shows he is still elite.
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I feel Fernandes stays, but it’ll be close. Champions League football is the deal-breaker. If United secure a top-five finish, he is likely to reject the Saudi money again. The real danger is PSG. If Luis Enrique triggers that £57 million clause, United are in trouble; that’s a steal for a player of his calibre. United need to get a new contract signed before the window opens, and they need to do it quickly.
