Man Utd decide what to do with Bruno Fernandes after his outburst at Como, while INEOS prepares a smart plan
After nearly seven years at Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes might leave Manchester United next summer. The club is planning a smart move to keep his transfer value high.
Fernandes, who used to be a fan favorite, has recently faced a lot of criticism because of some of his actions. After their tough 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League, he openly questioned coach Michael Carrick’s tactics. As a result, Carrick benched the 32-year-old for the match against Bournemouth. Even though United struggled and let in three goals, Fernandes didn’t get on the field.
Manchester United hasn’t won in their last seven games, putting Carrick’s job in danger. Still, it was confirmed on October 27 that Carrick will coach the team in their upcoming game against Chelsea. His long-term future at the club is unclear, even though he signed a two-year deal in May. Fernandes is in a similar spot with his contract set to end in June 2027, but the club can extend it by one more year. It looks like they plan to use this option to help protect his transfer value.
Reports say United’s leaders are thinking about activating that one-year extension so they can sell him later. Fernandes has caught the interest of clubs in Saudi Arabia before. In June 2025, he turned down a big £100 million offer from Al-Hilal, although he admitted it was an exciting chance. After that, he broke the Premier League record for the most assists in one season last year with 21.
Saudi teams kept watching Fernandes this summer, but he wasn’t interested in leaving. However, they might come back with fresh offers in January or next summer, which could give Manchester United a good chance to sell him.
It’s been a tough season so far for United, who have only won one of their first eight Premier League games. They were also knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton & Hove Albion. Fernandes hasn’t helped change things much, failing to score or assist in his last five league games after a hat-trick against Ipswich Town.
Fans have even criticized Fernandes for his body language and effort during matches. Carrick said the decision to bench him was based purely on football reasons despite Fernandes’s comments after the Como loss. “Picking the team is always a difficult decision,” Carrick told Sky Sports. “We have to make the choice we believe is best for the team’s performance.”
Manchester United will play Chelsea next in the Premier League on Saturday, October 31. It’s still not clear if Fernandes will be back in the starting lineup.