June 4th 2024.
Steve Bruce, the former football player and current manager, recently shared his concerns about Manchester United potentially making a mistake in the upcoming transfer window. He fears that the Red Devils may sell midfielder Bruno Fernandes, which could prove to be a major error.
Fernandes, who hails from Portugal, has been a subject of transfer rumors as he has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford. The 29-year-old joined Manchester United in 2020 for a fee of £47m from Sporting Lisbon. Since then, he has been a key player for the team, scoring 54 goals and making 41 assists in 159 Premier League games.
In light of the disappointing eighth-place finish for Manchester United this season, Fernandes has expressed his desire to stay at the club as long as he is wanted. However, he also wants the team to match his ambitions, especially since they failed to qualify for the Champions League. But reports suggest that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of the team, is considering selling Fernandes due to interest from other clubs such as Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and teams in Saudi Arabia.
Steve Bruce, a respected figure at Old Trafford and a former Premier League manager, believes that letting go of Fernandes would be a mistake. He firmly stated that the midfielder "cannot leave" the team. Speaking to talkSPORT, Bruce said, "For me, the one shining light in the last few years at Manchester United has been Bruno. He plays with huge intensity and is a top, top player. You don't want to be losing him."
Bruce also expressed his desire for another key player, Marcus Rashford, to stay at Manchester United. However, he acknowledged that the 26-year-old needs to rediscover his spark after a disappointing season where he only scored eight goals in 43 games. His underwhelming form also led to him being left out of England's provisional squad for Euro 2024.
"We saw again in the FA Cup final what a talent he is," Bruce said of Rashford. "He has got frightening ability, but he seems a little bit lost at the moment. He needs to find that spark again and play with the same energy and enthusiasm which we saw when he broke through."
Bruce pointed out that Rashford may be feeling the weight of expectations on his shoulders and needs to play with more freedom. He believes that the young player has a lot to offer and hopes he can find his mojo again next season.
Currently, Manchester United is yet to make a decision on the future of their manager, Erik ten Hag, after recording their lowest-ever Premier League finish. As the team evaluates their options for the upcoming season, Bruce's message is clear - they cannot afford to lose players like Fernandes and Rashford if they want to achieve success.
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