By OkayGoal
Manchester United are reportedly weighing up whether to sell their captain next summer, after a public disagreement with Michael Carrick left him out of the matchday XI.
The Bruno Fernandes situation has moved fast. The Portugal international was an unused substitute in Sunday’s home defeat to AFC Bournemouth, having publicly questioned the head coach’s tactics.
The Red Devils hierarchy are said to be assessing a sale, with emerging reports claiming that a departure is now a genuine option for Manchester United.
It is a sharp fall for a player who was recently named Premier League Player of the Year and broke the competition’s record for assists in a single season.
Bruno Fernandes contract: the option that could protect his value
The 31-year-old is approaching the end of his current deal, but United hold an option to extend it by a further year. The club are considering using that clause to preserve his transfer value before deciding whether to sanction a sale.
That would be the cautious route. Extending first means that if United do decide to cash in, they negotiate from a position of strength rather than watching the contract run down.
Bruno Fernandes and Michael Carrick: how the relationship broke down
Fernandes had started every previous Premier League game this season, and has three goals and one assist in seven league appearances. His performances and body language have drawn criticism in recent weeks, and then came the comments on Carrick’s tactics.
Carrick responded by leaving him on the bench against Bournemouth. The head coach is already under heavy pressure, as we covered in our look at the half-time stat that has the sack talk growing, so a row with his most senior player is the last thing he needs.
Where does Bruno Fernandes play best at Man Utd?
His quality is not in question. The problem is that United’s squad remains so imbalanced that successive managers have struggled to use him in his best position as a no.10. Carrick has played him on the right wing and up front, while Ruben Amorim deployed him in a deeper midfield role.
Fernandes is at his best between the lines, dictating attacking transitions and taking risks in the final third. For that, United need a more balanced midfield behind him, a theme we explored when looking at what Carlos Baleba brings to United’s midfield.
Author opinion: sell or extend?
Selling Fernandes would be a huge call, given how much the team leans on him. Yet extending his deal before considering a move could make financial sense, and if United can land a substantial fee and reinvest it in players suited to a coherent long-term system, moving on may suit everyone.
Fernandes deserves a team built around his strengths, and United need a squad that works collectively rather than one that relies so heavily on a single creative outlet. A departure is far from guaranteed, but the club look increasingly willing to consider their options.