Champions League beckons as Bruno Fernandes expresses deep affection for Manchester, hinting at a summer stay amid club uncertainty and fan adoration.
As the 2025/26 season draws to a close, Manchester United are preparing for a hugely important summer that will require difficult and ambitious decision-making from the club's hierarchy. With Champions League football in their grasp, Michael Carrick's side host rivals Leeds United on Monday evening at Old Trafford.
INEOS have a number of major decisions to make this summer, including the manager, new signings and potential outgoings. United are likely to be playing Champions League football next season, with the Premier League on the verge of being awarded five spots in next season's competition following Liverpool and Arsenal's form this time around. Under the leadership of interim Michael Carrick, the Reds currently sit in third place before facing Leeds next.
Given that the club finished in 15th place last season, a third-place finish would be a big improvement and could allow the club to have a lucrative budget. Participating in Europe's elite competition could also prevent a potential Bruno Fernandes departure, who was subject to interest from the Saudi Pro League last July.
There are no doubts that interest in Fernandes will be rife once again this summer given his stellar performances across this campaign. Despite links of a move to Al-Hilal last year, Fernandes decided to stay under the management of Ruben Amorim, but later said he felt the club wanted him to leave.
With the situation around the manager uncertain, United could face a similar conundrum this summer. Fernandes is a favourite amongst the fans and losing him would leave a huge gap in the team. However, United's captain has insisted no decision on his future will be made until after the World Cup.
Manchester is home for Fernandes
Since his arrival in 2020, Fernandes has contributed over 100 goals and 100 assists in all competitions, and he is now five assists away from breaking the Premier League assist record for a single season. The 31-year-old has continued his sensational form this season and has thrived since Carrick's appointment and change of system.
In a recent interview with Men in Blazers, Fernandes described his love for Manchester and showed no signs of wanting to depart the club at the end of the season.
"When you spend so long in a place, you kind of feel part of it, and obviously I'm very proud of my country, and I love to be there, but I feel at home in Manchester, and my kids feel at home here.
"It's wonderful for me to be in a place where my kids enjoy so much and can feel so at home as they do in Manchester. I felt Mancunian, and then I heard my kids speaking in the accent, and I understood that I'm not as much as they are.
"As I've always said, I feel good here. I want to achieve my dreams still. But obviously I can't talk by the side of the club. I've seen a lot of news. I've seen a lot of people talking that I had an agreement to go already next season. If the club has done that agreement, it wasn't made with me.
"So I haven't spoken with anyone. I could tell you that there are still people talking to me and saying that they will be very eager to have me next year, of course.
"But from my side, that's not talked about. Because my agent also knows how I work, so if he wants to talk to me, it will be after the World Cup. Because until then, I won't speak to anyone."
United cannot afford to lose Fernandes
Fernandes has been United’s best signing since the Sir Alex Ferguson era came to an end in 2013. His relentless goal contributions have been integral to the team over recent years, and it is difficult to imagine a United squad without him.
Despite being over 30 years old, he shows no signs of slowing down and is almost always available for every match. Under Amorim, Fernandes was deployed in a deeper role which raised concerns from fans but since Carrick’s arrival and United’s persistence on a 4-3-3 structure, Fernandes has showed why he is considered world class by many people within the sport.
United still need to decide who will manage the team next season but if they decide to move forward with Michael Carrick, it would be a shock to see the Portuguese moved on given that his contract runs until the summer of 2027 with the option of a further year.