Bruno Fernandes has been integral to Manchester United this season after spurning summer advances from Saudi Arabia - his speaking out is a very different case to that of Liverpool and Mo Salah
Bruno Fernandes has spoken about feeling that the club wanted him gone in the summer
Bruno Fernandes has spoken about feeling that the club wanted him gone in the summer
View 2 Images
Bruno Fernandes has lit a fuse under Old Trafford. And it could end up being nearly as explosive as Mo Salah’s transfer saga at Liverpool.
Fernandes’ interview - saying he was “sad and hurt” - accusing the Manchester United board were ready to sell him to Saudi club Al-Hilal last summer was incredibly powerful.
It will have embarrassed the United hierarchy and left a potentially even bigger disconnect between the fanbase, Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Just when you think things could not get any worse, Fernandes has taken aim.
United fans already worship Fernandes and him also expressing his love and commitment to the club and desire to win trophies will have only strengthened the bond. But it is hard to believe that there is not some strong politics going on here.
Just to be sure, Fernandes says that Ruben Amorim wanted him to stay and that is the reason the board did not get their wish. However, Fernandes knows what he is doing. If you set up a battle between Fernandes and the hierarchy (making it clear whose side Amorim is on) then there is only one winner.
Author avatar
Author avatar
Fernandes has been fabulous for United. His figures - goals and assists - in an ailing team have been remarkable. I don’t think he can be one of the Premier League all time greats because he has not won enough. But he deserves to be.
Maybe that is the difference with Salah. He made it all about himself, it was a misstep and, despite winning so much at Liverpool, he was actually ready to throw everyone else under the bus - apart from himself.
And this must be at the heart of Fernandes’ frustration because the club have let him down and failed to build a team around his strengths. He has been careful to say he has given himself for the club.
Salah has put his Liverpool future in question
Salah has put his Liverpool future in question
View 2 Images
You could make a stronger case for selling Fernandes last summer around Amorim’s tactics than a financial discussion. He is priceless to United.
But United do still look unbalanced. That is why the back three discussion goes on. Can you really make Fernandes work in that system? Fernandes seems to make it work himself.
However, in my mind, Adam Wharton would not fit in at United. Why? Have you seen him run? He is the passer in any team. He needs legs and energy with him. To make Amorim’s system work you need two midfield runners.
But actually United have always been based around a player of Fernandes’ class. That is the club’s whole identity. And why people like me think they are special.
It’s the style they stand for. The gripping eight goal thriller against Bournemouth was a taste of that. And Fernandes was at the very heart of it.
Selling him would be like parting with the family silver. And now Fernandes has set us all up for a very messy divorce when it inevitably comes.