MANCHESTER (The Thursday Times) — Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has turned down a second contract offer from the club, reports in Britain said on Friday, as Mauricio Pochettino prepares to take charge at Old Trafford.
The 32-year-old Portugal midfielder is under contract until the end of the season, and United hold an option to extend his deal by 12 months, to 2028. The club has been in talks with his representatives in recent months about a new contract, the reports said.
If no new deal is agreed, United are almost certain to trigger the extension before 1 January, according to the reports. Without it, Fernandes would be free to agree a pre-contract with a club outside England from January, when his deal would be within six months of expiring.
Sources close to the club were quoted as saying United remain relaxed and that talks are continuing. It is not clear when Fernandes turned down the latest offer.
A new coach
United sacked Michael Carrick on Thursday after the club’s worst start to a domestic campaign in 40 years, and named Pochettino as head coach on Friday. His first match in charge is expected to be away to Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November.
Fernandes came close to joining Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur in 2019 before moving to United from Sporting six months later, and United will hope the new coach can persuade him to commit his future to the club.
