Portugal international Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United may consider their options carefully should Real Madrid come in with a significant bid for the Red Devils' talismanic midfielder
Real Madrid are considering a blockbuster move to sign midfielder Bruno Fernandes, and the news firmly brings back the star's Manchester United demands into mind. The La Liga giants have heavily scouted the Portuguese ace and a £90million move could now be in the offing.
Los Blancos are said to have had a presence at almost all of United's matches and believe Fernandes would prove a perfect fit for Carlo Ancelotti's side, per the Daily Star. The 30-year-old United talisman has delivered 16 goals and 13 assists despite United's failing season.
Fernandes still has more than two years remaining on his contract, with an option for an additional 12 months, after putting pen to paper on a new deal in August following a summer of speculation linking him with a move away from Old Trafford. That decision came with a number of assurances however.
Real Madrid's interest is sure to cast those back into light, particularly with United currently struggling in the bottom half of the Premier League. Fernandes wanted to be competitive and for the club to show that ambition.
"The club knew that I want to compete with the best teams," said Fernandes in August. "They knew that we needed to improve the team. And I think that we’re doing that.
"I said to them: ‘I don’t need you to promise me that we’re going to win the league,’ because no one can promise that. But at least that we will have a team to compete and be competitive throughout the season, to try to achieve silverware and to compete at the highest levels.
"I think the club is doing that. It's trying to bring people in to get more players with quality in the team; to get more competitive, [so everyone is] fighting for your place."
United were ambitious in their spending ahead of 2024/25 but have endured a difficult season, and an overhaul is somewhat expected if the club want to compete under Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils' spending is set to be in part dictated by sales, though Sir Jim Ratcliffe has suggested his team will not be forced to sell due to the financial situation.
"No no. We won't be selling players because of the state we are in financially," he said earlier this month. "The club had got bloated so we reduced that and will finish it with a lean and efficient organisation. That's how we will address the costs.
"The player decisions will all be focused on how we are going to improve performance. That's all. Obviously that budget changes but upon who we may choose to sell because that would supplement the budget."
Amorim will be reluctant to lose his star player but it remains to be seen whether £90m could prove a tempting offer.
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