Bruno Fernandes has revealed what he tells Manchester United higher-ups when he has conversations with them.
Bruno Fernandes often comes under criticism from opposition fans and pundits for his on-pitch leadership style, where he flails his arms in the air and can often be seen arguing with the referee, but in reality, that just shows how desperate he is to win.
Manchester United have not always had that desire and desperation to win, especially in the years after Sir Alex Ferguson retired. But Fernandes regularly carries the team on his back when they need it most. The Red Devils would be lost without him.
However, Director of Football Jason Wilcox will be thinking of potential replacements for him, as the captain has a £57 million release clause in his contract, and has said he will decide his future after the World Cup this summer.
He will be in regular discussions with the club - regarding the managerial situation and his club - and Fernandes has now revealed what he has said in those talks.
Fernandes reveals what he tells Man Utd
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, finishing second in the Premier League was considered a failure; not winning a cup competition was considered a failure. You could not be second best.
That mentality appears to have been lost in recent years, but it is clear Fernandes thinks the same way. "Everyone that comes to Man United wants to win every trophy. No one thinks in coming to the club that we’re going to fight for one or two trophies in six years," he said in an interview with The Times.
"You want to fight for all of them. Then we went to three finals and didn’t win. That can happen. But at least you’ve been there in the fight. We were close.
"And what I said to the club every time that I spoke with them, what I want from the time I’m here, I want to compete.
"Because if I compete, I will be close to winning."
That mentality is why United need Fernandes and why he is so crucial to any manager who has been fortunate enough to coach him, but it is also the reason they could lose him this summer.
"Being now so long without winning a Premier League is not normal. As a player, you have to understand that the fans, the expectation, will always be that we want to come back and win the Premier League," he said.
Fernandes is at Old Trafford for the right reasons
"I know people will think: ‘You’re going to get more money, you can get better contracts.’ No, you come to Man United because you want to win trophies. Because money you can get anywhere," Fernandes continued.
Unfortunately, it does not seem like every player who has signed for Manchester United since Fernandes arrived has had the same mentality, but it appears he is trying to insert that mindset in his captaincy era.
"What I always say to the club is: ‘You can’t promise me that I’m going to win the Premier League. That’s impossible," he said. "But if you promise me that we’re going to be competitive and we’re going to be there at the end... that’s all I need to know.
"Because then it’s on me to become the best version of myself, to help everyone around to become the best version of themselves, to become the club we want to be."
United cannot afford to lose Fernandes this summer. It is as simple as that.