General view inside the stadium prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Levante UD at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 17, 2026 in Madrid, Spain.placeholder image
General view inside the stadium prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Levante UD at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 17, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. | Getty Images
Manchester United could see one of their most influential players leave in the coming months amid links to Real Madrid
The midfielder signed a new deal at Old Trafford back in August 2024, with that deal keeping him at Old Trafford until 2027. The Red Devils do have the option of triggering a one-year extension to keep him at the club until 2028.
He has been with United for six years now, after joining in late January back in 2020. Fernandes has made 312 appearances in that time, scoring 103 goals and providing 97 assists.
The 31-year-old was the subject of serious interest from the Saudi Pro League last summer, with it widely believed clubs in the Gulf state were willing to pay £100m to sign the Portugal international.
“I could have left in the last transfer window and would have earned a lot more money. Financially, it would have been much better for me,” Fernandes said last month.
“At one point I was going to leave – I won’t say where – but I would have won many trophies that season. I decided to stay not only for family reasons but because I genuinely like the club. The conversation with the coach also made me stay.
“But from the club’s side, I felt a bit of: ‘If you go, it’s not really that bad for us.’ That hurts me a little. More than hurting, it makes me sad, because I’m a player they have nothing to criticise me for. I’m always available for every match, I always play, whether well or badly. I give my maximum.
“Then you look around you and see players who don’t value the club as much as you do and who don’t defend the club as much. That makes you sad.”
Now Fichajes in Spain has reported that Real Madrid could make a move for Fernandes in the coming months as he will be available for between £34m - £43m due to his contract situation at Old Trafford.
The La Liga giants are said to view him as an “unbeatable market opportunity” with Fernandes said to be “very keen” on making the move to the Spanish capital. His arrival could see Madrid complete a shock sale of Jude Bellingham as they try and generate more revenue.
Fernandes is admired by people at Madrid for his leadership and “his technical profile fits perfectly into the midfield rebuild that the club's management considers urgent if they are to maintain their dominance in Europe.”
One person who does not want to see Fernandes leave Old Trafford is interim boss Michael Carrick.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash with Fulham, the former United midfielder said: "We all want to win things. We all want to get better. We want to improve as a team. We want to be successful, and that's something we've got to work towards together, but Bruno's been fantastic since I've been here.
“He was fantastic when I was here before, so I've got nothing but good things to say about him. That's not to get too far ahead, you know. That's [his future] on the agenda a little bit, but my main agenda is getting through the game on Sunday with Fulham. Bruno's fully committed.
“There's absolutely no issues at all with that. Things further down the line [will be] addressed towards the end of the season or whatever. But now everything's positive at the moment."
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