Fabrizio Romano says Manchester United have taken a firm internal stance on Bruno Fernandes, insisting the Portuguese midfielder is not for sale despite renewed interest from abroad this summer, according to CaughtOffside.
What Romano’s Update Actually Says About Fernandes
Romano’s reporting frames United’s position as unambiguous: Fernandes remains central to the club’s sporting project and any departure would require an approach United simply aren’t entertaining right now. That matters because the 31-year-old had been the subject of a lucrative offer from Galatasaray earlier in the window, reportedly worth around €20m a year, yet he has consistently signalled a desire to stay at Old Trafford rather than chase a payday elsewhere. Romano’s update also confirms United are actively negotiating a new contract with Fernandes, a clear sign of how highly he’s still valued at boardroom level.
The timing is significant. A €65m release clause applicable only to foreign clubs was written into Fernandes’ contract but has now expired, closing off the easiest route any overseas suitor had to prising him away without direct negotiation with United’s hierarchy. That single detail hardens United’s leverage considerably and effectively removes the shortcut that made Galatasaray’s approach plausible in the first place.
Bruno Fernandes’ Contract History At Old Trafford
Fernandes joined from Sporting CP in January 2020 for an initial fee of roughly £47m, potentially rising to around €80m with add-ons, and has since gone on to become just the fourth overseas player to score 100 goals for the club across well over 260 appearances. He signed an improved extension in April 2022 before United tore that up again in August 2024, tying him down to 2027 with a further option year, a deal worth around £300,000 a week that makes him one of the highest earners in the squad.
That contractual architecture is exactly why Romano’s update carries weight. United have already resisted one wave of Saudi interest earlier in his tenure, and the club’s pattern of repeatedly extending rather than cashing in suggests Fernandes’ long-term status was never seriously in doubt behind the scenes, whatever speculation swirled publicly.
How Keeping Fernandes Fits United’s Squad Planning
Retaining Fernandes also has knock-on implications for United’s broader recruitment strategy this summer, which has already seen the club explore deals involving Joshua Zirkzee and Victor Osimhen in a potential swap arrangement. Keeping their captain locked down gives Michael Carrick a settled attacking spine to build around rather than another creative-midfield rebuild on top of forward-line reshuffling.
It’s a similar dynamic to the one playing out at Anfield, where Ibrahima Konate edges closer to a new Liverpool contract, elite Premier League clubs increasingly prioritising continuity over disruptive sales even when overseas money is on the table.
What Fernandes Staying Means For United Markets
Fernandes remaining at United removes any lingering uncertainty around the club’s midfield staples for outright and top-four markets heading into the 2026-27 campaign, and bookmakers have shown no inclination to shift United’s odds on the back of transfer noise this window. Punters eyeing player-specific markets, assists, goal involvements, or captaincy-related props, should treat Fernandes as a nailed-on fixture rather than a fringe risk, with his consistent goal output across five-and-a-half seasons offering the statistical backbone for any anytime-goalscorer or shots-on-target bet involving United’s number eight.
