Bruno Fernandes has contributed heavily to public finances during his time at Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes
There are doubts over Bruno Fernandes's Manchester United future(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Bruno Fernandes has paid an astonishing amount of tax over the last year as he weighs up his Manchester United future.
The club captain, who earns in the region of £300,000 per week, is one of the UK's biggest contributors to the public purse. Over the last 12 months alone, he paid an estimated £9million in tax, according to the Sunday Times Tax List, which has recently been released.
He has earned his money in recent seasons as arguably United's most reliable player during a difficult era for the club marked by a revolving managerial door. There have been suggestions that Fernandes has grown tired of the constant cycle of upheaval, with countryman Ruben Amorim the latest boss to get the chop.
Fernandes has already considered a move to the Saudi Pro League, turning down a switch to the Middle East last summer. There will almost certainly be fresh offers this summer, although fans will hope the revival led by Michael Carrick can help convince the 31-year-old to stay put.
His current deal expires in the summer of 2027, with the option of an extra year. However, the financial incentives of moving to Saudi are are obvious.
In addition to the huge salaries they receive, footballers do not pay tax on their earnings in the country. That is in contrast to the 45 per cent rate applied in the UK on salaries exceeding £125,000.
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes is likely to be in demand again this summer(Image: Getty Images)
View 3 Images
While he maybe couldn't expect to match the £3.74m a week Cristiano Ronaldo nets, a weekly wage of approaching £1m would not be out of the question. For instance, Karim Benzema and Riyad Mahrez both earn over £800,000 a week.
Fernandes isn't actually the highest taxpayer in the United squad. That is Casemiro, a player who will definitely be leaving the club in the summer.
The Brazilian earns a whopping £375,000 per week according to the Sunday Times list, meaning he has paid almost £11m in tax over the last 12 months. That makes him UK football's third-highest taxpayer behind Manchester City's Erling Haaland (£17m) and Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) of Liverpool.
Ruben Amorim revealed that Manchester United midfielder Casemiro could not continue against Tottenham
Casemiro is getting ready to leave English football after contributing a huge amount to the public purse(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)
View 3 Images
Raheem Sterling, who last week ended his contract with Chelsea by mutual consent, paid £9.8m in tax, £100,000 more than Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.
Fernandes and Bernardo Silva of City were level on £9m. The tax list was topped by bookmakers Betfred, who contributed £400m to the public purse. The likes of Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and Anthony Joshua were in the top 100.