Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has laughed off a rumoured move to Barcelona, joking that it must be April Fool's Day following a report from Portuguese media linking him to the Nou Camp.
Fernandes is not enjoying the best of seasons by any stretch, failing to match his previous highs by netting just once since September, despite being the club's top scorer on 28 strikes last season.
The club are enduring a turbulent spell this term after some woeful results, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer getting the sack and now interim coach Ralf Rangnick finds himself under fire too - with Fernandes among the crop of players in the firing line for some poor recent displays.
Sportsmail reported last week that up to 17 United stars are unsettled at Old Trafford amid fears of an exodus next summer that includes Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani and Donny van de Beek - with a lowly atmosphere in the dressing room and even Rangnick shocked at the poor state the club finds itself in.
The discontent at United led to reports from Portuguese outlet SportTV claiming the Portuguese ace was a target for LaLiga giants Barcelona on their official Instagram page, leading Fernandes to get involved by rejecting the reports.
The post attached the story, with the caption: 'Bruno Fernandes [has] been offered to barcelona. 'Would it do [him well] to trade the Red Devils for Culers?'
Fernandes responded by writing: 'And I thought the new year only started a few days ago, yet we’re already on April 1!
'Or is this once again just bad journalism?'
