Bruno Fernandes has rejected a second Manchester United contract offer, leaving talks over wages, length and the club's 12-month extension option unresolved. His deal runs to June 2027, and if no new agreement is reached, he could discuss a move with foreign clubs as early as the January transfer window. Fernandes is still a regular part of the side, with 9 Premier League appearances this season.
The offer and what is still unresolved
The refusal is the headline, but the fine print matters too. United are understood to want to keep Bruno Fernandes in place, yet the second proposal did not settle the key issues around salary or contract length.
Fernandes has also said the story around the talks has been messy. "A lot of lies around many things that have happened at this club, between me and the manager, like that we have cleared the air. Nothing like that happened," he said.
The wider mood around United
The stand-off lands while Manchester United sit 18th in the Premier League with 8 points from 10 matches, which is about as awkward a backdrop as the club could have asked for. United's recent five-match run includes draws with Aston Villa and losses to Chelsea, Bournemouth and Como, plus a win over AS Roma.
Fernandes said the squad needed a lift after that run. "The club needed that win. The players needed that win. It is something we needed as a group of players and staff. We have been working so hard to get out of this situation together. It has been tough. There has been a lot of speculation in the media," he said.
The contract talks are still live, but the combination of his second rejection, the June 2027 expiry and the January possibility if no new deal is agreed leaves United with another problem they can do without.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
