Arsenal icon Ian Wright has launched a stinging critique of Manchester United's management of Bruno Fernandes, revealing he would welcome the Portuguese star at the Emirates Stadium "tomorrow". The condemnation follows Fernandes's own candid admission that he felt "hurt" by the club's ambivalence towards a potential mega-money departure last summer.
Fernandes's Revelation of United's Stance
In a recent interview with Canal 11, the 31-year-old midfielder opened up about the painful realisation that Manchester United "wanted me to leave" when a colossal offer arrived. Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia tabled a bid worth around £100 million, which the club did not outright reject, as reported by Daily Mail Sport.
Fernandes disclosed he even discussed the life-changing personal terms – a seismic financial uplift even for a player earning close to £300,000-a-week – with former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite the allure, the club's most consistent performer, under contract until 2027 with an option for a further year, chose to stay out of love for United.
Wright's Blunt Assessment on The Overlap
Analysing the situation on The Overlap, Wright pinpointed United's indecision as the core issue. "When you look at Bruno’s quotes, it comes back to Man United being indecisive," the former England striker stated. "So someone comes in for Bruno Fernandes last summer… you shut that down."
He expressed sympathy for Fernandes's position, arguing the player deserved unequivocal backing. "He didn’t want to go. Bruno is basically saying the club went, 'it’s up to you if you want to leave'. That’s not what you want to hear when you’re the person who has basically held the club up by yourself," Wright said.
"You want the club to say, 'you’re not going nowhere, you’re a massive part of this'. But Manchester United didn’t do that. They gave him the option and said, 'if you want to go, you can go'. What is that saying to him? I would take him tomorrow."
Loyalty and an Uncertain Future
The £47 million signing from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, now a fan-favourite with over 300 appearances, lamented that loyalty is no longer highly prized. He felt the club's message was, "if you leave, it's not so bad for us," a sentiment that left him saddened.
Fernandes contrasted his own unwavering commitment with that of unnamed others at the club, telling Daily Mail Sport: "I'm always available, I always play, good or bad. I give my all. Then, you see things around you, players who don't value the club as much and don't defend the club as much… that makes you sad."
When questioned in October about a future move, Fernandes replied, "I don't know," adding he believed the club were not pleased he rejected the Saudi proposal. He also clarified he had no pre-existing agreement to leave and that his agent knows not to discuss transfers during major tournaments.
The saga, fuelled by Wright's pointed comments, raises significant questions about Manchester United's long-term planning and their valuation of a player who has been their standout performer in recent turbulent seasons.
