Bruno Fernandes will soon celebrate his sixth anniversary as a Manchester United player, but there is growing concern that the Portuguese star is losing patience at Old Trafford.
Ever since becoming a Manchester United player on January 30, 2020, Bruno Fernandes has been the most influential player in the team.
Arriving from Sporting CP for an initial fee of £47 million, though, add-ons eventually pushed the total value of the deal towards £67.6 million.
Fernandes made his debut in a scoreless draw against Wolves, but he has since racked up a record of 310 appearances, 103 goals and 95 assists for the club.
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There was speculation over Fernandes being sold last summer, but he turned down moves to Saudi Arabia to remain at United.
Those rumours haven’t gone away completely, but Fernandes’ commitment on the pitch has been evident to see, even though the results have been far from ideal this season.
Bruno Fernandes playing against Brighton
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Bruno Fernandes running out of patience at Man Utd
With Ruben Amorim sacked and Michael Carrick sworn in to try to steady the ship at United, questions are bound to be asked over what the recent decisions mean for the players in the squad.
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United have several big decisions to make in the summer, including the search for a new permanent head coach, who will hope Carrick can deliver Champions League qualification.
There are several players at Old Trafford with uncertain futures, but a new report from The i Paper claims that Fernandes is running out of patience ahead of his sixth anniversary at United.
Fernandes is the main man at United, wearing the captain’s armband, but this isn’t the first disappointing campaign he has experienced at the club since moving from Sporting CP.
Now, sources are beginning to question whether the 31-year-old can keep single-handedly dragging United forward. That means other players need to start taking responsibility.
It is suggested that Fernandes had a good relationship with Amorim, and the thought of another temporary head coach, before another permanent switch in the summer, may be too much.
The i Paper adds that a move to another top European club is a possibility, with Bayern Munich still considered a potential suitor.
Furthermore, something that may concern United more is that Fernandes’ contract includes a clause that allows any foreign club – outside of England – to sign Fernandes for a mere £57 million.
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As a result, United fans could be looking at their last season with Fernandes. Only time will tell if he will be returning to the club after the 2026 World Cup this summer.
Michael Carrick acknowledged Bruno Fernandes’ importance at Man Utd
Looking back at old interviews with the new head coach, Carrick, it’s clear the former United midfielder is a big fan of Fernandes.
Carrick may have dropped Fernandes to the bench in his first-ever game as interim manager, when he stood in to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for three matches in 2021, but he’s made his admiration for the Portugal star no secret down the years.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast in July 2025, Carrick said: “Yeah, I like Bruno. I worked with him, with Ole and he’s fantastic.
“He’s got a real… he’s desperate to do well. He’s so keen to do well, and that’s a really positive thing. And then sometimes, you can overdo it sometimes as well, and it’s such a fine balance. But his attitude, he plays every game, he never misses training, and he’s there all the time.
“Puts himself out there, puts himself forward, and he’s been the main man, really, the talisman for some time. And when there’s moments or there’s something that’s needed, Bruno’s been the one to step up. I really enjoyed working with him when I did. He asks questions, he’s demanding, but he wants to do the right thing.”
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