Manchester United are finally acting on a promise they made to Bruno Fernandes when he signed a new three-year contract with the club last summer.
The last ten months at Manchester United have been one to forget for all involved. Fans, players, and staff went through an unexpectedly torrid time.
After Erik ten Hag lifted the FA Cup and signed a one-year contract extension at the end of the 2024 season, it was hoped that United would kick on, with this being signalled by over £200 million spent in the summer window and a new contract for Bruno Fernandes in mid-August.
However, by Christmas, the Dutch boss had been sacked from his post and replaced by Rúben Amorim, who ripped up the foundations and installed a 3-4-3 formation at Old Trafford.
The ship failed to steady, with the side finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, ultimately leading to no participation in the Champions League this coming campaign.
Fernandes can be forgiven for his hesitancy this summer
The three-year deal Fernandes signed is worth £46.8 million, once bonuses are factored in, with his base salary at £300,000 per week, according to Capology.
Upon signing the new deal, Fernandes explained that he was convinced to sign the agreement following conversations he had with the club’s board. “I wouldn’t have signed this contract if I didn’t believe that my best moments in a United shirt are still to come,” the United captain explained at the time.
“From my discussions with the football leadership and manager, it is clear how determined everyone is to fight for major trophies in the years ahead. I can see how positive the future is going to be, and I am relishing leading this team forward.”
However, these conversations had to happen again less than a year later when the player was presented with a staggering £700,000 per week contract from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. It took a significant effort from United’s decision-makers to convince Fernandes to reject the offer.
Fernandes explained that he could see “how positive the future is going to be,” and a 15th-place Premier League finish followed. He can be forgiven for being hesitant when it came to the promises United made to him, but ten months later, they are acting on them.
United are finally handing Fernandes what they promised
The club have completely torn up the rule book and installed an entirely new transfer philosophy at United, with Amorim creating a new culture inside the dressing room and being personally involved in the conversations that saw Fernandes reject the Al-Hilal offer.
Ten months after telling Fernandes that, in the words of Amorim at the end of last season, “the good days are coming” to Old Trafford, they are showing the ambition that a club must have to keep a player like Fernandes interested in their project.
Having nailed down Matheus Cunha as a significant attacking addition, the club are set to sign Bryan Mbeumo too, adding to the attacking flair Fernandes will have to work with next season.
Beyond this, United are hoping to secure an athletic midfielder to complement their club captain in the midfield, while a new striker is also a top priority. Away from the first team, United also continue to add top talent to their Academy.
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Although the club’s summer transfer activity has been slowed by tight finances and negotiations over Mbeumo’s move from Brentford, there is hope that the summer will soon pick up.
United want to sell many of their exiled high-profile talents, such as Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, with moves for Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia also expected.
If and when these moves materialise, Amorim will have more funds to play with, helping to show Fernandes that they are delivering on the promises they made when they handed him the £46.8 million, three-year contract in August 2024.
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