Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has made plain his desire to stay at Old Trafford beyond this season, as long as that feeling is reciprocated by the club.
Fernandes has seen his future become the subject of much speculation in recent weeks, with links to Bayern Munich and the Saudi Pro League emerging in the last few days alone.
But he has always stated that he will be a Manchester United players for as long as he is wanted. Speaking after Wednesday night’s 3-2 win over Newcastle United, the skipper suggested that the club are firm in their belief that he is still a necessary piece of the puzzle.
“I will be here till when the club wants me and the club wants me to be a part of the future. If for some reason they don’t want me, then I will go,” Fernandes told Sky Sports.
With the win over Newcastle, United moved level on points with the Magpies in the Premier League ahead of the final day of the 2023/24 season on Sunday. A vastly superior goal difference keeps Newcastle in front in seventh place – likely good enough for the Europa Conference League – but any slip up away at Brentford at the weekend will open the door for United, who travel to Brighton.
Even if United finish eighth and record their lowest ever Premier League finish, they could still land a Europa League spot by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Ironically, were that to happen it would do Newcastle out of a European place, assuming they don’t leapfrog Chelsea into sixth place.
Speculation has been rife that Fernandes could leave / Stu Forster/GettyImages
“Obviously the job isn’t finished yet. We still have one game in the Premier League then the biggest game of the season, the FA Cup final,” Fernandes explained.
“It has been a tough season. The table shows that and we are all aware of that. The fans have been amazing and behind us all season. We all appreciate what they have been doing for us. We want to do better and do differently and they [fans] deserve that.
“They have been amazing for us and we had to do something, we have been trying but results don’t show that. We have been working hard and everyone has been giving their best it is not enough and we have to do more.
“It doesn’t exist, a captain’s performance, it is a team performance. I am no different from anyone just because I have the armband. I always try my best and we always do the best we can for the club – nobody hides that we play for a big club and we have to lift our standards every game.”
