Bruno takes out Man Utd employee who was made redundant by Ratcliffe for lunch

CLASSY Bruno Fernandes has been spotted taking an ex-Manchester United employee out for lunch.

Former communications officer, John Allen, was made by redundant last summer amid a brutal wave of job cuts that saw 250 people lose their jobs.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been wielding the axe since arriving at Old Trafford as the part-owner makes swinging cuts to the club's budget.

Despite being forced out, Allen has not lost contact with senior figures at the club, as shown by him joining Red Devils captain Fernandes for lunch.

The pair were seen heading to Juniper in Wilmslow, a hotspot for Man Utd players to enjoy a spot of lunch.

Allen had worked at Man Utd for 25 years, starting in the ticket office before moving into the media department in 2011, before he lost his job under Ratcliffe's Ineos regime.

Paying tribute to his two-and-a-half decades of service at Old Trafford in September, then manager Erik ten Hag presented a special Man Utd shirt with the No25 to him during Allen's final press conference.

Ten Hag, himself sacked by Man Utd a month later, said in a speech: "John, 25 years is a very long time. You are proud of this club and proud that you worked here.

"You feel so connected with this club. It is a difficult moment to say goodbye.

“I know you as a good colleague and a very good support for me.

“I wish you all the best for what is coming, it will be great for you because you are so competent.

“I wish you all the best in your work but also for your family, too.”

SunSport's Neil Custis wrote at the time: "The regular United press pack also gave him a present. It all had the air of a happy retirement but it wasn’t, this bloke was getting the shove and he didn’t want to go."

Pausing to hold back the tears, John said: “It has been the biggest honour coming from Manchester to work with all these managers.

“This is my club and to be able to do this, I am very lucky."

In February of this year, months after the first round of cuts, it was confirmed by the club that as many as 200 more jobs would be lost.

A club statement said: "Manchester United is to transform its corporate structure as part of a series of additional measures to improve the club’s financial sustainability and enhance operational efficiency.

"The transformation plan aims to return the club to profitability after five consecutive years of losses since 2019.

"This will create a more solid financial platform from which the club can invest in men’s and women’s football success and improved infrastructure.

"As part of these measures, the club anticipates that approximately 150-200 jobs may be made redundant, subject to a consultation process with employees.

"These would be in addition to the 250 roles removed last year."

SunSport exclusively revealed how lunches for all but the first team had been reduced to soup and sandwiches — and that includes coaches and analysts, with a later report from The Guardian revealing the staff canteen was set to CLOSE altogether.

Ending free lunches for staff is estimated to be saving the club £1million a year, while the club will also be scaling back its London presence, according to BBC Sport.

The situation is no better on the pitch, with Man Utd 14th in the Premier League after a heavy 4-1 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday.

Fernandes and co face a make-or-break Europa League second leg clash against Lyon at Old Trafford this Thursday.

Failing to win the game, and being eliminated from any chance of winning qualifying for the Champions League by winning the competition, would deal further damage to the club's already disastrously low coffers.

Although an FA report published yesterday revealed Man Utd spent £33m on agent fees between February 2024 and February 2025, the third highest in the division behind Chelsea (£60m) and Man City (£52m).