Fernandes rejects second Man Utd contract offer

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reports that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has turned down the club’s second contract proposal, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season. United can still activate a 12-month extension, which would keep the Portugal midfielder tied to Old Trafford until 2028, and the club is said to want to avoid relying on that option by reaching a fresh agreement first.

According to the BBC report, negotiations have been taking place in recent months, but there is no sign of an imminent breakthrough. The situation comes amid broader uncertainty at United after Michael Carrick was dismissed following a poor domestic start, and Mauricio Pochettino is expected to take over as manager. The club may hope the change in coaching could help persuade Fernandes to stay.

Fernandes, 32, joined United from Sporting in 2020 and has been one of the team’s key players, scoring six goals in 13 matches this season. BBC Sport’s analysis suggests both sides have reasons to be cautious: Fernandes may want to remain in contention for major trophies, while United may be unwilling to make a long-term commitment before seeing whether his form recovers and how the new manager reshapes the squad. The report also notes that if no new deal is agreed, Fernandes would be able to begin speaking to foreign clubs once he is within six months of the contract ending.