Rene Meulensteen believes Bruno Fernandes could possibly be tempted to go away Manchester United if a suggestion from Real Madrid and Barcelona got here in the summertime.
Fernandes has been in scintillating form since Michael Carrick’s arrival as interim head coach following the sacking of Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese midfielder was deployed deeper in a midfield two under Amorim, but has reaped the rewards of his more advanced attacking midfield role under Carrick.
Only Erling Haaland (27) has greater than Fernandes’ 18 goal involvements this season, but despite that, there remains to be a component of doubt over the 31-year-old’s long-term future at Old Trafford.
Fernandes is under contract at United until 2027 with the choice of an extra 12 months, but reports suggest that the midfielder has a £56.6 million (€65m) release clause in his current deal, which may only be triggered by overseas clubs.
Real were previously credited with interest in Fernandes, and former United coach Meulensteen believes the Portuguese midfielder might jump on the offer if the Spanish giants tabled a bid in the summertime.
Meulensteen told BetGoat: ‘I believe he’s very connected to United and dependable.
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‘I believe there is likely to be a case where one other team, perhaps in Saudi Arabia, comes knocking with a big sum of money because everyone knows the cash situation at United.
‘He’s committed quite some years now to United, and he’s possibly their best player for the last six seasons. What he’s contributed, even in poor moments for United, he’s the one which always delivered.
‘If you happen to ask me, if a team like Real Madrid or perhaps Barcelona would come, he is likely to be tempted to go and say, ‘Listen, I need to experience that.’
‘But not for one more Premier League team.’
Despite being 31 years old, Fernandes’ output shows no signs of slowing down, with Danny Murphy recently labelling the midfielder as one of the best attacking midfielder in European football.
‘Bruno got his goal with a beautiful finish and topped off a superb performance, considering he actually had certainly one of his poorer performances last week,’ Murphy told Match of the Day after United’s win over Tottenham.
‘I did the sport against Fulham and he wasn’t at his best. But for the time being, he’s arguably one of the best No10 in Europe.’
And Michael Owen echoed Murphy’s sentiments, suggesting that Fernandes could prove ‘unattainable’ to switch if he left United over the summer.
‘If there’s going to be massive money that is available in, then it’s got to be a choice to be made,’ he recently told Metro. ‘He’s obviously on big wages as well. But when he goes, it’s going to hit them hard. They’ll have to switch him with any individual good.
‘Everybody is saying, ‘Oh, Manchester United are flying now, what number of players do they should get to the following level to perhaps go and challenge for the title?’ when really, it’s how do they replace one or two which can be going to go in addition to adding to enhance the standard.
‘It’s an actual tricky one because he’s so good you’ll be able to understand if massive money comes for any individual of that age, why it could possibly be something that Manchester United would have a look at.
‘But trying to switch him can be nigh on unattainable. So it’s watch this space, really, but it surely’s a little bit of a conundrum for everyone involved.’
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