Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah have been the faces of Manchester United and Liverpool in recent years, and there are some interesting parallels between their careers.
It was confirmed this week that Mohamed Salah is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, cutting his contract short at Anfield.
Salah is just two years older than Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, who has also been linked with a dramatic exit from Old Trafford.
With Fernandes approaching his twilight years at United, there are some lessons that Ineos can learn from Salah’s send-off at Liverpool about how to handle – or not handle – a legend’s exit.
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Parallels between Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah
Last summer, Fernandes rejected a £100m Saudi move after offers were made for the Portuguese playmaker.
Ironically, Ruben Amorim was key to Fernandes staying, as Fernandes accused club chiefs of wanting to sell him in an explosive interview.
This is the first parallel to Salah’s final years at Liverpool. The Egyptian forward also delivered an explosive interview towards the end of 2025 where he claimed “someone doesn’t want me in the club”.
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In April of 2025, Salah signed a new £400,000 per week contract to stay at Liverpool. Fernandes is set for ‘crunch’ talks with Ineos to discuss his current terms and his future at Old Trafford.
Salah’s performances quickly dropped after his contract was signed, though, and there is now a frosty tension about his Liverpool exit, including his decision to waive the final year of his deal.
If there is anyone in the current United squad deserving of a legendary send-off, it is Fernandes, so Ineos must make sure his final few years at Old Trafford are handled gracefully.
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Difference between Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah situations
There are clearly plenty of similarities between Fernandes and Salah in their recent years at United and Liverpool. Both lashed out at club chiefs and have been linked with Saudi Pro League moves if things fell apart.
Salah ended up signing a big-money contract at Liverpool and is now ending his time at the club with a disappointing individual season where Liverpool have been poor champions. That is where Fernandes can stray from the path.
Fernandes does not appear to be influenced by finances or a new contract, instead, he just wants to be an integral part of United’s sporting project. He has repeatedly said: ‘If United want me to stay, I want to be here’.
Recent reports claim that Ineos are ready to build around Fernandes for their ‘Project 150’ which is United’s target to win the Premier League by 2028.
Fernandes is key to that project, and it seems everyone at the club – including fans – want him to stick around.
There will come a time when United will have to wave goodbye to Fernandes, but he deserves to go out on a high. Like Liverpool with Salah, United have accepted that the time to cash in on him has gone, but handling his exit well is important.
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