Recently, British media reported that Man United captain Bruno Fernandes is on Real Madrid's radar. The Portuguese player was one of the bright spots for the Red Devils in a difficult season.
Fernandes has 16 goals and 13 assists in all competitions this season. In the last 7 matches, the 30-year-old player scored 7 goals. According to the Daily Star, Madrid scouts have appeared in most of United's games in recent months and have identified Fernandes as the perfect choice for coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad.
He is seen as a potential replacement for Luka Modric - who is in his 40s and will be out of contract with Real at the end of the season.
Fernandes, for his part, has 2 more years left on his contract with Man United. The Portuguese midfielder was given a new contract in August 2024, accompanied by a significant salary increase and is currently one of United's highest-paid players along with Marcus Rashford and Casemiro. This means that no matter who the coach is, Bruno will always be considered the central figure.
However, if he receives a suitable offer for him, the club will find it difficult to refuse. Coach Ruben Amorim is said to not want to lose the team's top pillar, but the difficult financial situation and the need to cut personnel may force them to consider.
When deciding to extend the Red Devils last August, the midfielder affirmed that he was very happy at the club as long as they could compete for titles.
"I am very happy at Man United. I want to win titles. I want to participate in the biggest tournaments, I want to fight for big titles. That is what I have told the club and they also affirmed that they want to do so," Bruno Fernandes said on the Man United homepage.
Up to now, the team's competitiveness in major tournaments is quite modest, if not the difference in size. In contrast, Real Madrid are still maintaining their top form and are a candidate for the championship in all competitions they participate in.
Although Bruno is an excellent player, it is not clear whether he will suit Real's system or not. Jude Bellingham took the No. 10 spot. Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni are other options Real could use in the central midfield role.
Fernandes' versatility allows him to keep up with many positions if required, but in his 30s, the £90 million fee seems a bit high. This will be a deal that all three sides need to be cautious about, especially Man United need to consider taking the risk of exchanging the star who has carried the team through many difficult times over the past 5 years.
