Michael Owen says Manchester United should "break the rules" for Bruno Fernandes, because the midfielder is too important to lose. United have not agreed an extension yet, even though Fernandes's deal runs to the summer of 2027 and includes a 12-month clause the club can trigger. The debate is not really about sentiment, either. It is about whether United are willing to treat a 31-year-old captain like a special case.
Owen's case for ignoring the age rule
Owen did not dress it up. Speaking to GOAL, he said: "If I was Manchester United, I would absolutely do everything... sometimes you have to break the rules." He added: "He's just a must if Manchester United are going to continue their progression."
That view lines up with what Fernandes has actually produced. He had 21 assists for United in the English top-flight last season, and he has made 327 appearances and scored 107 goals for the club. Those are not the numbers of a player drifting into the edges of the squad. They are the numbers of someone still shaping what United do in possession, chance creation and leadership.
Fernandes will turn 32 in early September, which is exactly why this conversation exists. But if the club are already planning around his age rather than his output, they risk ignoring the one player Owen is talking about as indispensable.
What United have to decide
The club can wait and lean on the 12-month option in the deal, but that would only stretch the uncertainty out. Owen's point is simpler than that. United have a player with 21 league assists last season, 327 appearances and 107 goals, and they are still weighing whether normal contract rules should apply.
That is a hard line to hold. Fernandes has already done enough at United to justify exceptional treatment, and Owen is right that the age argument alone should not be the deciding factor. United do not need to hand out sentiment. They need to keep the player who still drives their attack.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
