Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17, 2025 in Manchester, England
Bruno Fernandes has been open about his future at Manchester United
This week Manchester United were rocked by a statement from captain Bruno Fernandes. The 31-year-old revisited the saga of his potential departure last summer, claiming that club bosses would have felt indifferent to his exit.
had been a target for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal but the choice was made to ignore the interest as manager was insistent on his fellow Portuguese remaining part of the plan.
Freshly speaking to Canal 11, : "The club wanted me to go, I have that in my head. I told the directors that, but I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision, because the manager wanted me.
"If I had said I wanted to leave, they would have let me go.
"From the club’s side, I felt a bit like, ‘if you leave, it’s not so bad for us.’ It hurts me a bit. More than hurting, it makes me sad because I’m a player who has nothing to criticise.
"I’m always available, I always play, good or bad. I give my all. Then, you see things around you, players who don’t value the club as much and don’t defend the club as much… that makes you sad."
United may have , however the captain's new comments may have for an ideal successor.
Here, the MEN takes a look at possible candidates with the ability to replace him in the event Fernandes does depart...
A tactical "engine," Bruno Guimaraes is perhaps the more "complete" midfielders in the Premier League. While often playing slightly deeper than Fernandes, his statistical profile shows he is elite at winning possession in the attacking third. He currently ranks in the top 80–95th percentile for successful passes into the penalty area (1.51 per 90), proving he has the vision to unlock defences from central areas. His greatest strength is his ability to transition the team. Like Fernandes, he isn't afraid to take risks, but he pairs this with a higher passing accuracy (roughly 82% compared to Fernandes' 79%). He would offer United a more "composed" version of Bruno, capable of both dictating the tempo from deep and providing the final ball in the final third. That said, at 28 he might not be a long-term solution, plus Newcastle have proven reluctant to lose their star midfielder to rivals in recent years. 1 of 5
The "chaos" replacement. If you are looking for a like-for-like replacement in terms of "risk-reward" playing style, Gibbs-White is the closest match in the Premier League. He shares Fernandes' "high-risk" distribution profile, evidenced by a similar passing accuracy (76.8%) which reflects his constant attempts at difficult, game-changing through-balls. Gibbs-White is the creative heartbeat of his team, much like Fernandes is at Old Trafford. He excels in "Shot-Creating Actions" and possesses a relentless work rate, often ranking high for distance covered and successful tackles. His leadership at Nottingham Forest suggests he could also fill the "vocal" void left if the United captain were to depart. It would most certainly set United back by a large sum, as Forest famously removed a release clause from the equation when a summer move to Tottenham Hotspur was recently blocked. 2 of 5
The emerging "modern 10." Nicolas Paz is the breakout star of Serie A, blending the "old school" flair of a traditional playmaker with "modern" physical demands. Under Cesc Fabregas at Como, he has become a statistical powerhouse, leading the league in several creative metrics including progressive passes received and shot-creating actions. What makes Paz a "perfect" Fernandes replacement is his hybrid nature. He stands at 1.86m, providing a physical presence in the air, yet he is one of the best dribblers on this list (leading his team in successful take-ons). He generates high "Expected Assists" and has the versatility to drop into a "No. 8" role, making him ideal for a team moving toward a more structured, possession-based system. The hurdle to clear would be Real Madrid's reported €9m (£7.9m) buy-back clause valid until June 2026, as well as a 50 per cent sell-on fee. 3 of 5