Fernandes deal delay puts United’s ambition under scrutiny

Bruno Fernandes is reluctant to sign a new Manchester United contract because he has doubts about the club’s ambition and whether it has kept its promises, Roundtable reports. The delay leaves United trying to persuade their captain to stay while they navigate a difficult start to the season.

Talks have made no progress in recent weeks, but the parties remain in discussions. United are working to convince Fernandes that remaining at Old Trafford is in his best interests. His current contract runs until summer 2027, and the club can extend it by a further 12 months.

The timing sharpens the stakes. United have taken six points from their first six league games and sit 13th. They also lost 2-0 to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. Fernandes’s contract is not the only sign of concern around the club: Lisandro Martínez has criticised senior leadership for not adequately backing Michael Carrick in the summer transfer window.

Fernandes was United’s standout player last season, winning both the FWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards. His 21 assists set a record, surpassing the previous joint mark held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. That contribution gives United a clear reason to want to retain him, but his recent performances have raised concerns. The report notes that an injury affected his form; Carrick said Fernandes had almost fully recovered. The 5-2 win over Ipswich Town is cited as an exception to his recent struggles.

The central issue, then, is bigger than the length or terms of a contract. United must persuade Fernandes that the club’s direction matches the ambition he expects, while results and questions over backing for Carrick add pressure to that case. Keeping their captain would provide continuity, but the reported concerns put the burden on United to show why staying is the right choice.

United travel to face Leeds United on Sunday. The match comes with Fernandes’s future unresolved and his club seeking a response to a difficult run.