Bruno Fernandes continues to show his special influence at Manchester United when receiving enthusiastic cheers from the audience in the friendly match with Leeds at Croke Park.
The Portuguese captain even received a greater response than any other player on the field. This shows his position in the hearts of fans.
Fernandes was brought on after about an hour of play and quickly became the center of attention. He put the ball into Leeds' net but the goal was disallowed for offside. Not long after that, the 31-year-old midfielder's shot from outside the penalty area hit the crossbar.
Fernandes' appeal also put the match in a rare situation. Some fans ran down to the field to take pictures with their idols, forcing the referee to end the match immediately after 90 minutes instead of added time. Man United then won 5-4 in the penalty shootout, although Fernandes himself missed a shot.
Results are not the most concerned factor in a friendly match. What is more noteworthy is the reaction of fans to Fernandes. For them, the Portuguese midfielder is still the most important face in the current squad.
Last season, Fernandes scored 9 goals and had 21 assists, contributing to helping Man United finish third in the Premier League and win a ticket back to the Champions League. These numbers further strengthened his position in the team led by Michael Carrick.
However, Fernandes' future is not entirely clear. Last summer, Man United faced a big offer from Al-Hilal for their captain. Currently, Juventus, AC Milan and Galatasaray are also said to be interested in this midfielder. Fernandes' contract is entering its final year, with an option to extend for another season, but the two sides have not yet reached an agreement on a new contract.
Fernandes is said to want to continue to stick with Man United, and may even end his career at Old Trafford. He once publicly expressed his desire to compete for titles with the team. However, the salary issue may become a bottleneck.
Man United is trying to control the salary fund, while Fernandes has grounds to demand a level of remuneration commensurate with his role and contribution. In particular, Marcus Rashford has returned to the club and is currently the highest-paid player in the team.
This is definitely not the problem Carrick wants to face. Fernandes is still an important link in his system, which is even more clearly shown through the combination with Youri Tielemans.
The "Red Devils" may be possessing a team full of youth and many changes, but Fernandes is still the one who brings the difference. The problem lies in whether the board of directors is willing to meet the necessary requirements to keep their leader.
