Manchester United officially announced on Friday that Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes has renewed a new four-year contract with the club until 2026, with a one-year priority renewal. The 27-year-old Fernandez, who just scored twice in the World Preliminary European Zone play-off final to help Portugal reach the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year, is the perfect time to announce his renewal. But the official announcement on April 1, April Fool's Day, is also ironic and very much in line with the status of the new contract.
On Thursday, B Fee's brother-in-law agents Miguel Pinho and Rui Guimarães returned to Manchester with him to complete the signing formalities. Since joining Manchester United for £67.6 million in the winter window in January 2020, Fernandez has quickly become the core of the team, scoring 49 goals and assisting 39 times in 117 games, second only to Van Persie, who signed before his retirement, and is known as the true core of Manchester United.
Fernandez, who renewed his contract, said: "From the moment I joined Manchester United, I have developed a special relationship with the club and our amazing fans. I grew up watching Manchester United play and dreamed of playing here one day. Now the dream is a reality, and it's an honor."
'Even two years later, the moment I walk into Old Trafford still makes me feel wonderful, and it's an honour to hear the fans sing my songs, score in front of the West Stand, put on the Manchester United shirt and fight for the legendary club.'
He boasted that he would bring a title to Manchester United: "I also hope to win more here, and I know other team-mates and coaches think the same way. We want to give the fans the success they deserve first and foremost. We've shared some great moments over the past few years, but the best moments for me and the whole team haven't come yet."
Manchester United's contract extension with Fernandez was somewhat unexpected. If it weren't for the two goals in the World Cup, it might even cause more controversy. Although he has scored 9 goals and assisted 13 times this season, he is the second scorer after Ronaldo and the team's number one assist king, but his performance has fluctuated. More crucially, Manchester United's original contract with him would have been until 2025 and could be renewed for one year, that is, itself until 2026.
So, this renewal only extended the contract for one year, the contract period is not the key to the renewal, the club is obviously just to give him a raise. According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, B fee salary increases can be ranked third in the team. According to this statement, his income is above £350,000, but the renewal offered by Romano to 2027 is not accurate, and most people believe that his salary information on the new contract of the Portuguese midfielder is also wrong.
According to british media, the new contract terms of B fee will ensure that he earns 250,000 pounds a week, which can rank 6th in the team. Higher than B fee income are Ronaldo, De Gea, Pogba, Sancho and Varane, with Martial and Cavani on par but surpassing Rashford's weekly salary of 200,000.
United's director of football, John Murtaf, explained: "Everyone knows how important Bruno (Fernandez) is to Manchester United, his record of goals and assists is outstanding and his performances have been very consistent since he joined the club. Bruno's work efficiency, dedication and excellent attitude are exactly the characteristics we want from a Manchester United player."
"He's the ultimate professional player with a lot of great qualities to raise the high standards needed to play for this great club. Bruno, like everyone at Manchester United, remains ambitious and determined to achieve continued success on the pitch and let us re-challenge the title."
The touting can be put aside, objectively speaking, according to Fernandez's contribution value, he has nothing to blame for getting a first-class salary in the team at Manchester United. But the problem is that the Red Devils' salary structure is already recognized as a deformity, and the renewal of the B fee will mean that the club does not intend to correct, but is ready to make mistakes and continue to maintain the status quo.
The views of former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson represent the views of many: "Fernandez's contract extension is interesting and basically provides a basic overview of the current functioning of the Manchester United club. First of all, I'm not saying he's not a good player, but United have not even decided on the next manager, and have given a player a new contract for four or five years. What if the new coach doesn't like B fees very much, a coach may not like his style in the game, or he always shows his depressed style."
"He's a good player, I like him a lot, but he's not good enough this season. I also find it strange that giving a player a huge long-term contract without United having a management dilemma is a big decision for the club." Merson continued, "As I've said many times, you can never predict United, including the outcome of the game and the behaviour on the sidelines.
But United may have no choice, as Fernandez's unhappiness on the pitch is evident in addition to a slip of the band this season. If you want him to play more happily and agree to the transformation of the new coach, for today's club, there is only one way to increase income. The United hierarchy certainly did not dare to promise him that the team would win the Premier League and the Champions League next season, because Ronnick's team was likely to miss out on the Champions League qualification in the top four, and the Red Devils were so poor that they only had money left.
After the renewal of Fernandez, the next move of Manchester United club will be crucial. After all, Cavani (250,000), Mata (120,000) and Jesse Lingard (100,000) will all leave at the end of their contracts this summer, making room for a B fee raise, and if Pogba sells Martial on a free transfer, he can save £540,000 a week.
However, Manchester United can no longer have a strange operation, according to rumors, Manchester United may then renew Luke Shaw and even Rashford, both of whom will have a salary income of at least 250,000 pounds, plus the summer window of new signings will certainly be high salaries, according to the British media, Manchester United will buy at least 4 people! If the club is not careful to renew Pogba's contract, the salary saved will be filled up immediately, or even worsened.
Without a drastic sweep of existing redundancy, you can imagine United's weekly salary level next season: £480,000 for Cristiano Ronaldo, £400,000 for Pogba, £375,000 for De Gea, Sancho, Varane (£350,000), B Fee, Rashford, Luke Shaw (£250,000), £200,000 for new defenders, £200,000 for new centre-forwards and £190,000 for Maguire. For 11 players alone, a staggering £3.3 million a week in salary is spent.