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Is Bruno Fernandes leaving Man Utd (Photo: Getty)
Many Manchester United fans believe Bruno Fernandes is leaving after the club captain posted a cryptic message on his Instagram story.
While 2024/25 was a terrible season for United, it was terrific on an individual level for Fernandes who recorded 19 goals and 20 assists in all competitions.
While Ruben Amorim plots a complete overhaul of his squad, the attacking midfielder is the one player he cannot afford to lose and yet that is the very thing that could happen.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are desperate to sign the 31-year-old so he can play at the Club World Cup which begins in just a few weeks.
Reports say Al-Hilal are willing to pay United £100million for his services and will triple Fernandes’ current £250,000-a-week salary, an offer he is giving serious consideration to.
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Speaking after United’s post-season tour match against Hong Kong on Friday, Amorim was confident his star player would not be leaving Old Trafford.
But the transfer saga took another twist on Saturday, when Fernandes posted a mysterious message in Portuguese on social media.
Fernandes’ cryptic message (Photo: Instagram)
Translated to English, it reads: ‘If you tried and failed, congratulations! There are people who don’t even try.’
What does Bruno Fernandes’ cryptic message mean?
Naturally, football fans were quick to put on their tin foil hats and attempt to decode what exactly Fernandes meant.
Many seemed convinced the message confirms that the Portugal international will be departing the Red Devils, with one supporter on Reddit writing: ‘He’s gone. Tried but couldn’t save the club.’
Another added: ‘He’s leaving. He tried his very best throughout his time with us, and gave it his all, but it wasn’t enough.
Al-Hilal v Al-Nassr - Saudi Pro League Previews
Al Hilal have offered to triple Fernandes’ wages (Photo: Getty)
‘And there are many our players who didn’t even try, or give it their all, or did their best, or display the same commitment and drive that he has.’
‘Sounds like he’s leaving,’ another concurred. ‘Nothing wrong with providing his family with generational wealth. Who knows, this might be a blessing in disguise.’
‘Well, it was a privilege watching you play cap. I think this might be it,’ a thankful fan said.
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Fernandes joined Man Utd in January 2020 (Photo: Getty)
Not everyone interpreted it that way however, with some thinking that the very opposite has happened: ‘Saudi tried to take him, they failed. This is what I’m choosing to believe.’
‘Two options: 1. Saudi tried to buy him but they failed or 2. He tried to succeed at Man Utd but he failed so he is leaving,’ one fan pondered.
Some read the message as Fernandes replying to the widespread criticism of United: ‘A response to all the negativity this season. We failed but at least we tried. Unlike all the armchair critics.’
What has Ruben Amorim said about Bruno Fernandes?
Speaking after Man Utd’s 3-1 win over Hong Kong on Friday, Ruben Amorim was asked whether Bruno Fernandes had played his final game for the Red Devils.
‘I don’t think so, I don’t know for sure. Nobody knows but I don’t think so,’ the head coach replied.
‘I think he is seeing us taking some actions to change all the things and I think he saw that and I think he wants to stay.
‘He is saying no to a lot of things but he shows he wants to win. He’s really young, he’s really good he needs to be in the best league in the world.’
Read the full quotes here.
‘So many ways to interpret this. I think he is trying to see the season as something a bit positive as in he at least tried his best.’
And there were also a few certain that the message doesn’t mean anything at all and is being over analysed, with one fan joking: ‘We need a five episode documentary for this.
‘Call in the experts, Ronaldo, Pogba, Rio, Scholes, Carragher, Neville, also add an ex NBA player for some out of the box opinion.’
We’re likely to discover the true meaning very soon, as Al-Hilal have reportedly given Fernandes until the end of next week to decide on whether he wants to join them or not, with the deadline to sign players for the Club World Cup on June 10.
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