Bruno Fernandes Contract Negotiations: What Fabrizio Romano Says
Fabrizio Romano has moved to cool talk of a contract crisis between Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United, insisting the captain is negotiating – not walking away.
Reports this week claimed Fernandes had rejected a new deal at Old Trafford and could even leave on a free transfer next summer. Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri suggested United’s offer added only €500,000 per year to his salary, not enough to convince the Portugal international to extend, and warned he could run down his deal.
Romano is having none of the drama.
On his YouTube channel, the transfer specialist set out “two things” he wanted to clear up. The first was the idea that Fernandes could leave for nothing.
“Bruno is out of contract in 2027, but there is an option to extend the contract for one more season,” Romano explained. “So Manchester United are absolutely protected.”
In other words, the clock is not ticking down in the way some have suggested. United hold an option, and that safety net matters.
The second point was the notion of a flat rejection. Romano drew a firm line between a player turning his back on a club and a player trying to shape his final big deal.
“It’s not about rejecting a contract. It’s about negotiating. That’s different,” he said. “To say no and to say, ‘I want this, you want that, let’s try to find a solution’ are two different things.”
Right now, there is no agreement. Talks are active, though, and Romano stressed the tone of those discussions rather than the tension.
“The relationship between Bruno and Manchester United is still a very important relationship,” he said. “Bruno is a United legend, a top player who will stay forever in terms of memory. To leave on bad terms is not Bruno Fernandes’ style.”
Fernandes’ leverage is obvious. Last season he dragged United through long stretches of a turbulent campaign, finishing with nine goals and 21 assists in 35 Premier League appearances. When the team lost its way, he was usually the one still demanding the ball, still trying to force a pass, still raging against mediocrity.
No surprise, then, that others are circling. The Daily Telegraph reported that Galatasaray are prepared to double his wages and put €50m on the table for United. For a player who admitted it “hurt” him that the club were open to selling him to Al-Hilal last summer, those numbers sharpen the stakes.
Back then, United were tempted by the Saudi money. Fernandes stayed, and his importance only grew. Now the captaincy, Champions League football and his status as the heartbeat of the side all feed into the talks.
Romano underlined that point, name-checking Michael Carrick’s belief in the midfielder and stressing how the club hierarchy views him.
“Bruno is not a normal player. Bruno is the captain of Manchester United. Manchester United are in love with Bruno. Manchester United are finally back into Champions League football and Bruno will be a big part of the squad,” he said. “So there is no reason to create panic or drama around this.”
The negotiation itself is complicated. It is not just about adding a few zeros.
“It’s about the salary,” Romano said, referencing Marcus Rashford’s return to United and the impact of his pay packet on the internal wage structure. Fernandes wants his status reflected properly. United must balance that against a dressing room already sensitive to who earns what.
Then comes contract length. At 29, Fernandes is entering the stage where every deal shapes the back end of his career.
“That’s an important point,” Romano noted. “Bruno is a fantastic player, but he’s no longer 20 years old. Every single contract now becomes important because it’s going to be one of the last two or three contracts of his career.”
There is also the release clause. Romano revealed that Fernandes currently has a clause of around €65m in his United deal. That figure, and how it works, is on the table.
“Now they have to understand whether to keep the clause, remove the clause, change the numbers, when to activate it, how many years it is valid for. There are so many topics to discuss,” he said.
This is the reality behind the headlines: salary, length, clause, hierarchy, age. Not a simple yes or no.
“For sure, it’s an important moment,” Romano concluded. “That’s a negotiation. There is no need for panic or drama.”
United know exactly what they have in Bruno Fernandes. Fernandes knows exactly what he is worth. Somewhere between those two truths, the club’s next era – and their captain’s final prime years – will be priced.
