Why Manchester United Might Have to Sell Bruno Fernandes This Summer

Bruno Fernandes is no stranger to carrying the weight of Manchester United on his shoulders but interest from abroad is beginning to swirl.

The latest club reportedly circling the Portuguese playmaker is Al Hilal, the Saudi Arabian powerhouse already flush with global stars is seemingly ready to add Fernandes to their ever-growing roster. 



Whilst rumours surrounding Manchester United players are nothing new, this one carries a different weight. For all the issues plaguing Ruben Amorim's team this season, Fernandes has remained the heartbeat of the squad. His output, creativity and sheer will to win have made him the standout performer in a team that, for the most part, has failed to function. Even his critics acknowledge that Fernandes operates at a different level to the rest of the current United crop, most of whom look increasingly replaceable. 





It’s telling that United now face the very real possibility of playing next season without European football. The only remaining lifeline is to win the Europa League, meaning they’ll have to ensure they fend off any fightback from Athletic Club in Thursday's semi-final at Old Trafford, and then beat either Tottenham or FK Bodø/Glimt in the final. A bottom-half finish, once unthinkable, is now confirmed, and with that comes a loss of revenue, immense pressure to win the Europa League and a squad that clearly needs reshaping. 





Ordinarily, selling your best player would seem ludicrous. Fernandes has contributed goals, assists and leadership in a side largely devoid of identity. But the situation at Old Trafford is far from ordinary. Financial constraints are beginning to bite, and the club's track record in the transfer market has been patchy at best. Spending big has not translated into a coherent or competitive squad, with hundreds of millions poured into players who have either regressed or failed to deliver altogether. 





This is where the reported interest from Al Hilal becomes relevant. Whilst no official bid has been made, reports suggest the Saudi club are preparing a jaw-dropping wage package worth more than £65 million per season for Fernandes. That figure alone would be enough to turn the head of any footballer, especially one in his early thirties who has consistently put the team ahead of personal gain. 





What’s more intriguing are the whispers surrounding a potential release clause in Fernandes's contract. Some sources claim he could be allowed to leave for as little as £60 million, a figure that would normally seem low for a player of his influence and status. Manchester United have publicly denied the existence of such a clause, but as we’ve seen before in football, where there’s smoke, there’s often fire. 





If the clause is real and Al Hilal are genuinely willing to meet both the fee and the astronomical wages, Manchester United would be forced into a difficult decision. Keep Fernandes and risk losing him for nothing down the line (contract expires in 2027), or cash in now and use the funds to reboot a squad that desperately needs fresh energy, tactical flexibility and players who fit into Ruben Amorim’s long-term project. 





There is, of course, a massive risk in letting him go. Fernandes is not just the best player at the club right now; he may be the only irreplaceable one. His departure would leave a leadership void and a creative vacuum that the club would struggle to fill. However, if he were to stay, it is hard to see how the club builds around him quickly enough to match his ambitions and his level. In a squad full of question marks, he is the only exclamation point, and that alone makes this a story worth watching closely. 





For now, Manchester United continue to insist their captain is not for sale. But in football, especially in the modern era of state-backed riches and eye-watering contracts, even the most adamant denials can crumble. Fernandes has been loyal, productive and professional. Whether that is enough to keep him at Old Trafford as they stumble through a painful rebuild remains to be seen.