Bruno Fernandes has expressed his willingness to leave Manchester United should the club decide to cash in on him as part of a squad overhaul following their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
United suffered a 1-0 loss in Bilbao on Wednesday, with Brennan Johnson scoring the decisive goal, deepening the club’s already disappointing season.
Manager Ruben Amorim, reacting to the loss, said he would step down without demanding compensation if the club no longer wanted him.
Now Fernandes, the 30-year-old captain, has echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the club’s financial limitations and the need to refresh the squad.
“I have always been honest. I’ve always said I will be here until the club says to me that it’s time to go,” Fernandes stated.
“I’m eager to do more, to be able to bring the club to the great days. On the day that the club thinks that I’m too much or it’s time to part ways, football is like this, you never know it.
“But I’ve always said it and I keep my word in the same way. If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it is what it is and football sometimes is like this.”
Despite being United’s standout performer this season, Fernandes was unable to make an impact against Spurs at San Mames.
‘Very sad day’
He reflected on the loss as a painful moment for the team.
“We wanted to win more than anything in this final,” he said. “It’s a very sad day because we’ve done some very good things in this competition until today.
“But today (Wednesday) was the day that mattered, the most important day of the competition. It was the day we could have been in the history of the Europa League, but it’s not like that. And football is cruel, and it’s been our turn to lose.”
Having joined United in 2020, Fernandes also backed Amorim to continue leading the team despite their poor performance under his tenure.
United have won only six league matches since Amorim took charge in November and currently sit 16th in the Premier League — on course for their worst finish since their 1974 relegation.
“We (the players) just agreed that he’s the right man,” Fernandes affirmed. “He has done a lot of good things. We know that the manager is looked at by the results.
“Obviously we see more than that as players. We know for everyone it will be about him bringing back the positivity in the club.
“To try to bring the club back to fight for trophies, fight for the big trophies. And we all agree that he’s the right man.”
What you should know
Bruno Fernandes has pledged loyalty to Manchester United but says he’s ready to leave if it helps the club financially.
Following a Europa League final loss and a poor league season, he and manager Ruben Amorim face increased scrutiny — though Fernandes insists Amorim remains the right leader for United’s future.
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