18 Aug 2026 13:43:01
Finding it convenient that we’ve been in talks with Bruno for a few months on a contract and apparently he wasn’t happy with it… now clubs are willing to offer him double etc etc. Has the feeling of a flex by his agent, don’t get me wrong he’s been brilliant for us but we have to be careful too.
There’s plenty of examples of older players getting a big payday then falling off a cliff, just look at Salah. Be interesting to see how this develops although, with the current state of our window we might give him a new big deal and try to dress that up as a success for the ownership. One to watch.
18 Aug 2026 15:11:21
Bruno is a fabulous player, but if he honestly wants to go and double his cash at 31, and play in Turkey or Saudi, then we should shake his hand and thank him for his incredible service to this club, wishing him all the best for the future.
18 Aug 2026 15:24:07
Fully agree with that, Eric.
He won't go to Turkey, I suspect, and if he wants to, then he's not for us anyway.
He turned down silly money last year, double this offer, so I think it's nonsense, but it will give the doom mongers and the negative nellies something to cry about.
18 Aug 2026 15:44:11
I wonder, would Bruno have potentially left if it wasn't a World Cup year.
I do believe, though, we hang onto players for far too long. The top managers, Jose, Pep, Sir Alex, all have a real record of letting players go when we believe they're still at the top of their game.
18 Aug 2026 16:06:54
Johnreese,
You're bang on the money there, more so, Pep. It was a good way to bring cash in and rejuvenate and strengthen the first team.
18 Aug 2026 16:25:46
I'm not sure I agree with the reasoning here. Bruno is a top class player with no indication he's slowing down at all. He could have 3 or 4 more years here. He also will have seen that the club has stopped paying silly money in contracts. I would expect the best he'd get is an extension at the same terms as he is on today.
Quite frankly, he's the only squad member worth that. The club could also taper the contract to reduce year on year, and he may accept that. If he were motivated by money he certainly wouldn't have stayed here as he was offered a king's ransom to go to Saudi.
18 Aug 2026 16:55:40
I agree with that, Eric... I just don't think we should be offering that kind of money (if true). I'm sure he'd get a rise or something similar to what he's on from us. But any more than that, then I can't see it.
18 Aug 2026 18:02:54
See my post lower down.
Looks to me like this is a big test for the football brains at the club.
Bruno is 32 in a couple of weeks. It would be absolutely incredibly daft to give him a big pay rise and extended contract.
18 Aug 2026 18:11:23
I think a pay rise is ok, Redman, but we have him for 2 more years. I wouldn't be extending that any more than one year, which we wouldn't have to trigger if his form went south.
18 Aug 2026 19:42:03
Bruno deserves a new contract and a pay rise. He's getting better, if anything. He seems like he takes care of himself, so being nearly 32 isn't an issue. I'd give him a pay rise and a 3-year contract.
We are a better team with him, and it would cost a fortune to try and replace him. If, in 2 years' time, we lose him for a minimal fee but we've won some trophies and have a replacement, that wouldn't be an issue.
18 Aug 2026 20:01:11
I mean, we still hang onto this idea that professional footballers are done by the age of 32. But, in truth, with modern sports science, many top players are able to continue playing at the elite level well into their mid and even late 30s now.
Bruno is probably coming off his best season for us at the age of 31; there is no reason why he can't keep playing at this level for another 3 or 4 years, ala Modric. He has always had an impeccable fitness record, and is hardly ever injured. He might not be able to play 50+ games every season at 35 years old, but he could still play an important role.
Now, that doesn't mean give him a 5 year deal, but a 3 year plus 1 deal shouldn't be too much of an issue. I also trust that he's the kind of man who, if his performances dropped right off, he'd take a move to Saudi or somewhere, rather than diminish his legacy at United.
Let's be honest, we are starting the season and Casemiro, even at 34, will be missed, and he could have easily contributed to our upcoming season if he had stayed. While Bruno's game doesn't rely on physical traits as much as Casemiro's does, in theory he should be able to adapt and contribute at a high level for longer.
18 Aug 2026 20:26:14
Who else brings the same creativity to the team?
I get the 'holding in too long' arguments.
But we've all seen the (few) games without Bruno, and we look lost going forward.
18 Aug 2026 22:48:32
We have Cunha lined up to replace him. There should be no twisted arms here. But they may well give him a salary bump and an extra year to protect his future value to the club. After his last season, it is justified, I think.
18 Aug 2026 23:30:29
Agree, db.
I'd have been happy to sell him a couple of years ago.
He was 1st class last season. I agree with all your rationale above. Give him a modest increase and a further year. So it's w years with an option of a 3rd. If his form and influence is less in 2 years, you don't exercise the option.
19 Aug 2026 08:23:15
Shappy, if a player of the like of Bruno Fernandes wants to prolong his career in a really meaningful way, like Modric, he needs to leave the EPL by 33 at the latest. Modric went earlier than that.
I can't think of too many in the EPL contributing too much at 33-plus, playing an all-action style like Bruno Fernandes.