THE BIG DEBATE: Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes could be left with a major dilemma this summer if Real Madrid firm up their interest in the Portugal star with an offer
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Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring for Manchester United
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is a summer transfer target for Real Madrid
(Image: Carl Recine)
It's been another turbulent season for Manchester United. But amid a campaign littered with sobering results and numerous no-shows, their captain, Bruno Fernandes, can once again hold his head high.
Quite frankly, it doesn't bear thinking about where United would be without him. So, with that in mind, maybe it should come as no surprise to learn that he could be offered the chance to escape the turmoil at Old Trafford for a crack at finishing his career with a glut of trophies by Real Madrid. A tempting proposition for anyone.
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Given the criticism Fernandes often cops over his body language and attitude on the pitch, coupled with United's poor season, maybe a change of scenery would appeal regardless.
On the other hand for United, their bleak financial situation has been well documented, but can they really afford to sell off their best player regardless of the price?
We asked the Mirror Football team for their take on Fernandes and whether he should stay or go...
READ MORE: Marcus Rashford is embarrassing Ruben Amorim with Aston Villa form after Man Utd exileREAD MORE: Ruben Amorim's XI next season without Bruno Fernandes and with four new signings
Felix Keith
Bruno Fernandes is currently a big fish in a small pond at Manchester United. He is the club captain, the best player – by a country mile – and is paid accordingly, earning a reported £300,000 per week.
If Real Madrid’s interest comes to anything this summer then he has a choice: to stay as top dog in Manchester, or scrap it out for seniority and rank in Madrid. The Galacticos era is long gone at Real, but there are still plenty of egos to contend with – and I’m not sure that would suit Fernandes, who suits the embattled statesman at Old Trafford.
On the other hand, if Fernandes can swallow his ego, then Real offers the surest route around at winning silverware. United are currently 13th in the Premier League and are very unlikely to win either the Premier League or Champions League in the next few years under Ruben Amorim.
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes has become a polarising figure among some pundits
Fernandes will turn 31 in September. He has never won a league title or major European trophy. His situation is akin to that of Harry Kane, who traded in mediocrity at Tottenham for potential glory at Bayern Munich last summer. If I were Fernandes, I’d jump at the opportunity to do the same.
Andy Dunn
If Real Madrid put sufficient cash on the table and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is willing to sell, then why on earth would Bruno Fernandes NOT want to go to the Bernabeu? It would be a no-brainer of epic proportions. Manchester United are 13th in the Premier League, Real Madrid are three points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
United are doing well in the Europa League but Real Madrid are fancied to win a SIXTEENTH European Cup/Champions League. They also play in the Club World Cup this summer.
Old Trafford is deemed by many as not fit for purpose and the owners want to demolish it and build a new stadium that would not be finished until long after Bruno has packed it in. The Bernabeu refurbishment is quite spectacular. At Real Madrid, Fernandes would be playing alongside Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. At United, he plays alongside Rasmus Hojlund, Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire. The average annual temperature in Madrid is almost six degrees higher than it is in Manchester. Shall we go on?
If Real Madrid want Fernandes enough to put down a massive fee and Manchester United want that massive fee in their bank account, then Bruno would probably walk there.
Tom Victor
Fernandes has been in fine form despite Manchester United's struggles this season
At 30 years of age, Bruno Fernandes is running out of time to become a league champion and hasn’t once looked like changing that at Manchester United. He’s at the age where it’s time to start thinking about his eventual legacy, and that may well mean it’s time to move.
If you asked me this question in August, I’d have said it was absolutely time to leave. He appears to have found a new lease on life under Ruben Amorim, though, after finding the start of the season extremely tough under Erik ten Hag.
On the off-chance Real Madrid come in with a bid, offering Fernandes the chance to add some trophies while not carrying the weight of being the symbol of a team’s success or failure, it would be hard to begrudge him a move. For now, though, there’s still time for him to deliver Europa League glory and ride off into the sunset.
Daniel Marsh
Bruno Fernandes is many things. Perfect, he is not. But Fernandes has that little bit of magic that used to be associated with the Manchester United teams of old. With that in mind, it wouldn't come as a total surprise if he is offered the chance to jump ship again this summer.
Now for the caveat: as good as Fernandes is, all the best if you're trying to wrestle your way into that Real Madrid team. I'm not sure he's a bonafide starter at the Bernabeu. Maybe that doesn't matter, though, if Bruno would willingly accept a reduced role in exchange for silverware after failing to win major honours at Old Trafford.
Should Bruno go? Probably. But if Manchester United have even the slightest chance of persuading him to stay again after last summer's transfer talk, they should do whatever it takes to keep him at the club - even if cashing in on would be a sensible move for the coffers. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos are reportedly open to selling anyone if the price is right. But even with an unlimited budget, they would struggle to attract anyone capable of filling the void Bruno would leave right now.
John Cross
Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the club are said to be open to selling any player at the right price
First and foremost, it is hard to see Bruno Fernandes going to Real Madrid. Has anyone looked at their front line? Unless the Spanish giants sell this summer - and there has been plenty of talk about Saudi and Vinicius Junior - where would he get in? Over Jude Bellingham? Rodrygo? Kylian Mbappe?
What that says to me is that he is always going to shine and be the main man at Manchester United - but would not have the same status at another top club. However, it would be hard to begrudge Fernandes going because he has been carrying United on his back for a few seasons now.
A goal getter, goal provider and a big game player. He bails them out every time. He admitted last summer that he thought about leaving… but was persuaded to stay. Fernandes has the talent to thrive on a bigger stage - but not Real Madrid. His next move has to be the right one. I hope he stays.
David McDonnell
If Bruno Fernandes wants to win major trophies before the end of his playing career, then he should leave Manchester United this summer. The FA Cup and League Cup represent the only silverware Fernandes has won in five years at United, during which time he has been the shining star in a team mired in mediocrity.
With 95 goals in 277 appearances, Fernandes is unquestionably United's best signing in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, hardly ever missing a game and playing to a formidable standard every time. But at 30, time is running out for Fernandes to add the big prizes to his CV, with United in no position to challenge for the Premier League or Champions League any time soon.
Fernandes is already a United legend, despite not winning the big trophies, and he could stay for another few years and rack up the goals and appearances to underline that lofty status. But if Real Madrid or Barcelona – or any of Europe's other elite clubs – come calling this summer, Fernandes should make the move, having given all he can to a moribund United side, one that would be in an even deeper crisis without his unstinting contribution.
Fernandes may not be to everyone's taste with his histrionics and emotional approach to playing, but his talent and commitment warrants playing a better team, one competing at Europe's top table, somewhere United have not been in the past decade and are unlikely to be for some time.
Daniel Orme
Bruno Fernandes reacts while on the ground
Fernandes is talented but also his flaws and often attracts criticism(Image: Getty Images)
At 30, Fernandes will not have many more chances to sign for Real Madrid. His chance to win a Premier League title with United is even lower, so why not move to Spain and maybe spend your twilight years getting some major silverware under his belt?
Fernandes has no doubt been a wonderful servant for the Red Devils over recent years. Surely not a single United fan would begrudge him a move to the Bernabeu. He would face some serious competition in Madrid from the likes of Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz but a player as good as Fernandes would certainly earn opportunities. And given what he's produced over the last few years for a frankly rotten United side, imagine the numbers he could put up in a white shirt.
He's already laid the groundwork by suggesting he could have already left last summer, so it's clearly on his mind. He could even leave in the perfect way by winning the Europa League and leading United back into the Champions League - a la Eden Hazard's exit from Chelsea. So, go for it, Bruno.
David Anderson
Bruno Fernandes must be sorely tempted to leave Manchester United if Real Madrid genuinely want him. Fernandes turns 31 in September and this would be his last chance to win top honours at an elite club.The Portugal star’s stats are ridiculous this season and as awful as United are, they would be even worse without him hauling them over the line, almost single-handed. Fernandes has 14 goals and 14 assists and if he were at Liverpool or Manchester City, he would be hailed as one of Europe’s best players and the top performers in world football.United could make a substantial profit on Fernandes after paying £47million for him five years ago and he signed a three-year deal back in August to ensure his value. Of course, they don’t want to lose Fernandes and he is one of the few players Ruben Amorim can build his team round. But will the United skipper put self before club this summer again?
Mark Jones
Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Amorim
Fernandes has been the shining light during Ruben Amorim's tough start to life at United
He certainly isn't going to go down as one of their most successful players, but there's a chance that Bruno Fernandes ends up being remembered as one of the most important in Manchester United history.
If Ruben Amorim is to succeed at Old Trafford - and at this stage you do wonder just what on earth happens if he doesn't - then he's going to need his talismanic captain to keep on shining, and keep on delivering the displays we've seen from him lately. Fernandes is one of the very few good things about United's campaign, and the appointment of his fellow Portuguese seems to have snapped him out of the snarling, whining version of himself that was so off-putting.
Instead he's stood up and been counted, and while any offer he gets to leave should be considered carefully, he'll also know that he'll probably never again get the hero worship he gets at another club of United's size. I'd stay if I was him. We all know the club need him to.
Neil McLeman
If Manchester United are given £90m for 30-year-old Bruno Fernandes, they would get back most of the £70m they donated to Real Madrid for 30-year-old Casemiro in 2022. And the Portuguese midfielder would get the chance to return to the Champions League and win a league title.
Fernandes has been a great signing for Manchester United but give Rubin Amorim that money, he can find a replacement and a striker. Some Liverpool fans don’t like Trent Alexander Arnold going to Real Madrid on a free transfer. United supporters will at least have the compensation of Fernandes providing the finance for a rebuild.
But the motivations for the players are the same. Real Madrid are the biggest and most glamorous club in the world - bigger than Manchester United and bigger than Liverpool - and any player would want to play for them.
Jeremy Cross
Any footballer worth his salt would jump at the chance to join Real Madrid. The biggest and most successful club on the planet has to be on the CV of all leading players. And Bruno Fernandes is one of those, having carried Manchester United on his back for large parts of this season.
The fact will not be lost on Fernandes that United no longer have the appeal of old. The fallen giants will not be challenging for the biggest trophies anytime soon. While Fernandes owes United nothing, having done all in his power to help them try and be successful.
He's annoying at times with his childish antics, but Fernandes has talent - and it deserves more than he's getting at Old Trafford.
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