Bruno Fernandes makes worrying Man Utd admission as star confirms transfer offers
Bruno Fernandes was linked with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Al-Nassr during the summer transfer window but chose to commit his future to Manchester United by signing a contract extension
by Nathan Ridley · The MirrorBruno Fernandes admits that things at Manchester United are 'not positive' - and has opened up on how he could've quit Old Trafford this summer.
Fernandes, 30, rejected offers from across Europe and Saudi Arabia in favour of signing a lucrative new contract with United, keeping him at the club until 2027. Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Al-Nassr were all linked with a move but in August, the Red Devils captain chose to commit his future to United.
Fernandes signed his new three-year deal with the hope that under co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club will soon return to their former glories. But 11 games into the new season, United have mustered up just three wins, leaving boss Erik ten Hag under intense pressure and Ratcliffe's regime facing criticism.
But Fernandes could've avoid the crisis by leaving. "I was approached [by other clubs], the club was aware that there was a possibility of me leaving, I had concrete offers," he told ESPN. "But the club showed that it needed me, that it was at a time of change and that they wanted to do things differently."
Fernandes, who hasn't scored for the Red Devils this season, then admitted that he enjoys playing more for Portugal than his club. "It's not a positive moment," he said of United.
"We're not winning games, and the national team space is completely different. I've felt very at ease. The dynamics are very good. I'm in my country, I speak my language, and I have better food.
"I have demonstrated a good level in the national team. It's a space where I feel good and I feel like I can enjoy my football at a very high level, due to the dynamics we have and the quality I have at my side."
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The 30-year-old is understandably hungry to turn things around at Old Trafford after Portugal face Poland in Warsaw on Saturday and Scotland in Glasgow next Tuesday. "It's about improving as soon as I get there [Manchester]," he added. "Making the goals appear again because I'm a midfielder who scores a lot of goals and has, over the years, always shown a very high level of goals.
"I have to live up to those expectations and to my standards. What I've been doing is not at all what I want for this season because I haven't scored at the club yet. I hope that once I get there, I can score and help my club get back to winning ways and be at a good level."
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