Bruno Fernandes: Man United powerless to stop Real Madrid’s raid | OneFootball

Real Madrid have identified Bruno Fernandes as the missing piece of the jigsaw at the Santiago Bernabéu – and Manchester United are powerless to stop their captain leaving, according to the latest report from Spain.

A Mess in the Middle

Madrid have endured a miserable campaign after the positivity of appointing Xabi Alonso in the summer. The 44-year-old Spaniard established himself as one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe at Bayer Leverkusen, leading the German club to the Bundesliga title without losing a match in 2024.

However, Alonso’s philosophy is predicated on high-intensity pressing and positional rotation, designed to create overloads in specific areas of the pitch. It requires a malleable group who totally ‘buy in’ to the system, as the Leverkusen squad did.

But Los Blancos are a different beast; a footballing superpower where player power is potent and egos rule the club, propagated by a chairman who is even more demanding than their rabid fanbase. Madrid’s squad is also overloaded with athletic box-to-box midfielders – Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, even Jude Bellingham to an extent – who are outstanding individuals but do not form a cohesive unit in the middle of the pitch.

In short, it is wholly unsurprising that Alonso’s reign came to an explosive end earlier this month, with reports of player discontent and exasperation from their manager in response.

Alvaro Arbeloa has taken charge on a temporary basis, though the inexperienced coach is already under fierce pressure after losing to Albacete – a minnow from Spain’s second division – in the Copa del Rey and Benfica in the Champions League, putting Madrid in the playoffs rather than securing automatic qualification.

Whoever is at the helm of the Spanish giant is destined for failure, however, due to the imbalances in midfield – and it is this issue that has led them to Manchester, in hopes of agreeing a blockbuster raid for United’s maestro, Fernandes.

Bruno on the move?

Despite the Portugal international remaining United’s best and most influential player, INEOS were understood to be neutral on the prospect of him leaving last summer, amid interest from the Saudi Pro League. This ambivalence annoyed the club captain, who believed the hierarchy lacked the conviction to say they wanted to cash in on him.

Sources at Old Trafford dispute this, indicating INEOS have always wanted him to remain, though there is a sense that an offer in the region of £100 million for a player who turns 32 this year is something any club would consider. Fernandes is currently enjoying one of the best campaigns of his career, in spite of the turmoil of Ruben Amorim’s tenure coming to an end, with Michael Carrick arriving as caretaker in the Portuguese coach’s place.

In 20 Premier League appearances, he has scored five goals and provided 10 assists – the most in the division. For much of the season, he has played in a deeper role in midfield, though he has been restored to his favoured No. 10 position under Carrick.

Doubts continue to swirl around whether Fernandes will remain at Old Trafford past this summer, with interest from Saudi Arabia expected to be renewed. His contract expires next year, but the club retains the right to extend it by twelve months.

However, it also includes a £57 million release clause to clubs outside of England – which has put Madrid on red alert over a raid, with the midfielder understood to be open to a switch to the Bernabéu, as United would be powerless to stop him should the fee be met. Fichajes reports Madrid view Fernandes as a “big coup to revamp the midfield” next season, with his release clause presenting an “unbeatable market opportunity”.

The Spanish outlet claims the United talisman is seen as the “ideal partner” to unlock their superstar forward line of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jnr, who have often struggled for service this year.

Madrid are said to be ready to make “official contact” with Fernandes’ camp in the coming weeks – with mutual interest from the player in completing a transfer that would cause devastation at Old Trafford, both on and off the pitch, such is the influence the captain holds. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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