Manchester United are heading into a new era in 2026/27. Should Bruno Fernandes be a part of it?
It seems crazy that after the stunning performance in the Manchester Derby that there are questions being asked over Bruno Fernandes‘ long-term future.
But it is a legitimate question whether Fernandes will still be a Manchester United player when the 2026/27 season kicks off.
Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in tunnel
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Bruno Fernandes decision expected
Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United’s most important player, the club captain and the team’s most prolific creator.
The 31-year-old still has plenty of football left in him at the top level, something he made clear when he rejected Al-Hilal last summer.
The Saudi Pro League are planning another transfer push this summer, with ESPN reporting they are targeting 50 big names across Europe.
United could make up to £100 million for the Portuguese star, a huge fee that could be put towards the club’s reset.
And this is the key issue, Manchester United are entering a critical moment, with a new manager set to be appointed.
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The club are also working hard to find a replacement for Casemiro, after the Brazilian confirmed his intention to leave the club at the end of the season.
Should Manchester United keep Bruno Fernandes this summer, or is the time right to sell for big money?
Bruno Fernandes roars in celebration
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
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Casemiro’s exit after four years at the club underlines how United are entering a new era, and in one way, it is the right time for Fernandes to step away too, if he wants to.
Fernandes might consider that United have players already who can fill in for him, with Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount, and that the time is right for a new challenge, after five-and-a-half seasons at the club.
Any decision to allow Fernandes to leave would be an incredibly bold one from the club hierarchy, yet this is a situation that was considered last summer, and there has been time to plan accordingly.
Whether to keep or sell Fernandes, the decision is a huge one entering 2026/27, and it is not cut and dry either way.
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Can Palmer be the man to take over from the irreplaceable United captain?
Palmer vs Fernandes
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The case to keep Bruno Fernandes
The easiest decision to make is to keep Bruno Fernandes, because he is simply irreplaceable for this team.
United struggled when he was out at the end of December, a worrying glimpse into what a future might look like without him.
The numbers speak for themselves. Fernandes leads United in assists, and leads the Premier League in chances created.
The club hope to have Champions League football on offer next season, and this in itself will be a huge reason to keep Fernandes around.
Fernandes was terrific in the recent Manchester Derby win, creating six goalscoring chances and unfortunate to have his own goal chalked off for offside.
He is 31 and not 36, and while we wish he was five years younger, there is reason to be confident that the superstar has plenty left to offer.
The temptation to wipe the slate clean with a total midfield reset is there, but that would be damaging to the team United are building.
Any new manager would love to have Fernandes in his team, and any top central midfielder would love the opportunity to have him as a teammate.
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