Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has rejected the club's contract extension offer for the second time, according to BBC Sport. The 32-year-old Portuguese player's current deal runs until the end of the season, but the Red Devils retain an option to automatically prolong it by another year. Thus, the future of one of the team's key players remains open amid prolonged negotiations.
Negotiations and Extension Option
According to the publication, Manchester United aims to agree on a new contract with Fernandes' representatives and avoid triggering the current agreement's extension option. Meanwhile, the Portuguese midfielder has already turned down the club's second offer; the exact date of this decision is not specified. If the parties fail to reach an agreement, Manchester United will likely activate the 12-month extension option until 2028. The club must do this before January 1, as after this date Fernandes will be able to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club, with less than six months remaining on his contract.
Negotiations Amid Managerial Change
Discussions regarding the captain's contract unfold against a backdrop of severe internal instability at the club. On Thursday, Manchester United sacked head coach Michael Carrick following the team's worst start to domestic tournaments in 40 years. US national team manager Mauricio Pochettino is expected to succeed the English specialist and could take charge for the first time in the match against Liverpool scheduled for November 22 at Anfield. The club hopes the Argentine's arrival will help persuade Fernandes to stay.
Captain's Role and Statistics
In the current campaign, Fernandes remains one of Manchester United's key players: as of publication, he has made 13 appearances across all competitions and scored six goals. The Portuguese has been playing for the English club since January 2020, when he was signed from Sporting CP for 65 million euros, and has since become one of the team leaders, wearing the captain's armband.
What's Next
January 1 serves as the crucial milestone in this story: by this date, Manchester United must decide whether to activate the extension option to retain control over the player's future. For now, neither the club nor the player has officially confirmed the outcome of the negotiations, and discussions regarding a potential new contract or, conversely, the captain's departure continue.
