Uncertainty Surrounds Bruno Fernandes’ United Future | OneFootball

Ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired his infamous hairdryer treatment in 2013, Manchester United have found themselves locked in a perpetual state of rebuilding. The odd block of foundation has been laid, but they have all too often been allowed to decay into ruin.

There is now talk of a lavish new stadium being built on the site where the iconic Old Trafford structure has stood since 1910. The Red Devils are going to have to deliver a better construction job off the pitch than they have been managing on it.

A 15th-place finish in 2024-25, alongside failure to qualify for European competition, represented a new low for United. In many ways, the only direction in which to head from there was up.

Questions and Answers

Shoots of recovery have been found in 2025-26, but United remain +4000 shots in Premier League betting relating to title tussles and that standing only serves to highlight how far off the pace they remain.

Favor is being earned in some Premier League betting tips, with a top-four challenge seemingly back on the cards, but there remain more questions than answers on the red half of Manchester.

One of those sees collective focus narrowed on the future of talismanic club captain Bruno Fernandes. If it were not for the Portuguese playmaker, things could have been even worse for the Red Devils in the post-Ferguson era.

While a divisive character can split opinion outside of Old Trafford, his value to the cause is lost on nobody inside the so-called ‘Theatre of Dreams’. He has helped to ensure that United have awoken from the odd nightmare without losing too much sleep.

It is, however, yet to be determined how long he will be sticking around in the Red Devils’ engine room. Fernandes is tied to a contract through to 2027, which includes the option for a further 12-month extension, but will said terms be honored?

Talk of a move to the Saudi Pro League being made refuses to go away. There are already a few Portugal internationals plying their trade in that part of the world, including a certain Mr Cristiano Ronaldo.

Fernandes has been quick to bat away the rumors for now. He has said: “I’ve seen people talking that I had an agreement to go”, and that “if the club has done that agreement, it wasn’t made with me.” He went on to say any talks would only occur after the World Cup.

Contract running down

United will be pleased to hear their skipper playing down exit speculation, but that door has not been slammed shut and bolted. It would appear that transfer talks could be opened next summer once another bid for global glory is over.

By that stage, the Red Devils could find themselves being backed into a corner. With Fernandes’ contract running down, they will have a short window in which to cash in and maximize value in a prized asset.

They need to know long before the 2026 World Cup rolls around whether Fernandes intends to stay put, with clarity – rather than confusion – the order of the day. For a few months at least, everybody really needs to start talking about Bruno.