Bruno Fernandes rejected a second contract extension offer from Manchester United, according to Sky Sports.
The 32-year-old Portuguese attacking midfielder turned down the latest proposal as talks continue to stall at Old Trafford, with his current deal set to run until June 2027, as reported by Sport.fr based on reporting by The Athletic and journalist Laurie Whitwell. Manchester United originally opened discussions with their captain last summer, when he also rejected an initial proposal.
Despite the setbacks, club officials intend to continue negotiations to retain the playmaker.
Without a signed extension, Fernandes will become eligible to negotiate pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs starting in January 2027. Sport.fr said that a previous release clause of 65 million euros reserved for foreign suitors, established when he signed his last major agreement in 2024, has since expired.
So Foot highlighted that the player’s hesitation stems in part from the chronic instability and lack of results at Old Trafford during his eighth season at the club. Last season, Fernandes recorded 21 assists and earned player of the year honors from both the Football Writers’ Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association, despite United finishing outside the Premier League title race.
His output on the pitch has dipped during the current campaign. Fernandes has scored just four goals this term, including a hat-trick against Ipswich Town in August that secured United’s lone Premier League victory to date.
The midfielder has drawn substantial interest from abroad in recent months. In June, Saudi Professional League side Al-Hilal tabled a transfer offer worth 100 million euros to Manchester United while preparing to nearly triple the player’s weekly salary of 250,000 euros, according to figures detailed by Foot Mercato.
Galatasaray also made formal inquiries over the summer, offering a reported 20 million euros net per year, but United maintained that their captain was not for sale.
Sport.fr reported that the latest rejection from Fernandes centers on disagreements regarding wages and contract duration, placing the offer at odds with the strict salary-control policies implemented by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group.
Al-Hilal offered Manchester United a transfer fee of 100 million euros in June and prepared to triple the player’s weekly earnings.
Yes, if an extension is not agreed upon before January 2027, he becomes free to negotiate pre-contract terms with teams outside of England.
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