Arsenal icon Ian Wright has launched a scathing critique of Manchester United's treatment of their captain, Bruno Fernandes, insisting he would take the midfielder at the Emirates Stadium "tomorrow". The comments come after Fernandes gave a revealing interview expressing hurt over the club's stance during last summer's transfer window.
Fernandes' Revealing Interview and United's Indecision
In an interview with Canal 11 this week, the 31-year-old Portuguese international admitted he was left feeling "hurt" when he perceived that Manchester United "wanted me to leave" last summer. Fernandes disclosed he had even discussed a potential move to the Saudi Pro League with former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. Reports from the Daily Mail Sport at the start of the year indicated that Al-Hilal had tabled an offer of around £100 million for the playmaker, which the club did not outright reject.
Despite the life-changing financial terms on offer for a player earning close to £300,000 a week, Fernandes chose to stay at Old Trafford out of love for the club. The midfielder, under contract until 2027 with an option for a further year, has been United's most consistent and available performer since his £47 million move from Sporting Lisbon in early 2020.
Wright's Blunt Assessment on The Overlap
Speaking on The Overlap, Wright did not hold back in his analysis. "If you look at Bruno's statements, it all comes down to Manchester United's indecision," the former striker stated. "So if someone comes for Bruno Fernandes last summer... you shut it down."
Wright emphasised that Fernandes did not want to depart, but felt the club's message was effectively, 'it's up to you if you want to go'. "That's not what you want to hear when you're the person who has basically held the club up on your own," Wright argued. "You want the club to say, 'You're not going anywhere, you are 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 telling him? I'd take him tomorrow."
Fernandes on Loyalty and His Future
In his candid interview, Fernandes reflected on the changing nature of loyalty in modern football, admitting "loyalty is not so well regarded anymore". He cited the influence of Sporting manager Rúben Amorim's desire to keep him as captain as a factor in his past decisions, contrasting it with his recent experience at United.
"From the club's side, I felt a bit like, 'If you go, it's not so bad for us'," Fernandes revealed. "It hurts me a little. More than hurting me, it saddens me because I am a player who has nothing to criticise. I am always available, I always play, well or badly. I give everything." He added that seeing other players who might not value the club as highly was particularly disheartening.
When asked by the Daily Mail Sport in October if a move at the end of this season was still possible, Fernandes replied, "I don't know." He acknowledged the club may not have been pleased he turned down the lucrative Saudi offer. "I accept it, because the offer was very good in salary terms. Everything was huge for me. It was a huge difference," he said, while firmly denying any pre-agreement for a future transfer. "If the club has made that agreement, it hasn't made it with me."
