Manchester United have been warned that they cannot have any complaints if Bruno Fernandes pushes to leave next summer if they endure another disastrous season. The Red Devils captain was widely expected to depart in the current transfer window amid strong interest from Al-Hilal ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.
However, Fernandes rejected the opportunity to treble his £250,000-a-week salary to move to Saudi Arabia after talks with his family and head coach Ruben Amorim. United's preference to keep the 30-year-old rather than accept around £100million, which would have surely tempted higher-ups, also played a part.
Fernandes has established himself as one of the best midfielders in world football, consistently topping relevant metrics in the Premier League.
While he turns 31 in September, the Portugal international is primed to make another crucial contribution across the upcoming season.
Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances last term, carrying his team's productivity in front of goal.
It was not enough, as United slipped to a record-low 15th-place finish in the Premier League and lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.
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The Old Trafford giants may have retained the services of their star man this summer, and the arrivals of Premier League-proven attackers Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha will be a source of excitement.
But club icon Gary Pallister is not confident they will be so lucky next year, should they suffer similar woes in 2025/26.
"If nothing changes, I do not think anybody would argue if Bruno Fernandes gets to next summer and says he is done," Pallister told Online Casino Games.
"He wants to win the big things. He is too good a player not to. To look back on his career at the end of it and say, that is all I won [would not be right].
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"He is an exceptional player and an exceptional talent. But yeah, if we have another season like last season, then I do not think any Manchester United fan would argue if he were to say that's enough for me.
That said, Pallister has backed Amorim to turn things around and spark improvement in the next several months.
He added: "But I am not expecting that. I am expecting there to be an uptick in the way the team performs.
"I do like Ruben Amorim, I think he has got a good personality, and I think he speaks well - but he has got a tough task in turning everything around."
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