Manchester United have opened preliminary negotiations with captain Bruno Fernandes over a new contract, with the club determined to keep the Portugal international at Old Trafford beyond the final 10 months of his current deal.
Discussions between United and Fernandes’ representatives have already taken place as the club seeks to secure the future of one of their most important players. His existing contract is worth £220,000 a week and is due to expire next summer, although United hold an option to extend it by a further year.
Despite renewed speculation about Fernandes’ position during the summer, United remain adamant that they want their captain to stay. The club intends to try to reach an agreement on a new contract before the end of the year.
Fernandes, 31, again demonstrated his significance to Michael Carrick’s side on Sunday, scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist in United’s 5-2 victory over Ipswich. His performance came at the end of a week in which he was named PFA Player of the Year.
The midfielder has attracted interest from Galatasaray, who are prepared to offer him a four-year contract that would double his current wages. The Turkish club would also give Fernandes a £3.5m signing-on fee.
Juventus and AC Milan are also understood to have been monitoring the situation. A £56.7m release clause in Fernandes’ contract expired in July, leaving interested clubs without that specific option to pursue a move.
The latest discussions follow a period of intense uncertainty over Fernandes’ future last summer, when he came close to joining Al-Hilal. His agent, Miguel Pinho, held talks with the Saudi Pro League club in Riyadh after it offered Fernandes a three-year contract worth about £200m. Al-Hilal were also prepared to pay Manchester United a transfer fee of £100m.
Fernandes ultimately rejected the move, but later said he felt ‘hurt’ that United had been willing to accept Al-Hilal’s offer.
Since joining United from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, Fernandes has scored 110 goals and provided 109 assists in 329 appearances for the club. He also set a Premier League record with 21 assists last season.
Speaking last week, Fernandes made clear that he wanted to remain at United and continue playing at the highest level.
‘For me, it’s about being the best I can to keep myself playing with the best – and playing with the best is playing in the Premier League and playing for Man United,’ said Fernandes.
‘The goals (target) and everything that are set to my season every year is always the same. I don’t change, and it doesn’t change by being here for a longer period or a smaller one.
‘I play at the strength the manager needs me to play, and then if I’m not capable or able to do it, I need to step aside. I think every player needs to understand their timings, their moments.’
