Bruno Fernandes rejects second Manchester United contract offer as Carrick is sacked

Second offer rejected

Bruno Fernandes has turned down a second contract offer from Manchester United, according to The Athletic, and BBC Sport sources also say he rejected the club's second proposal. The 32-year-old's current deal runs until June 2027. The main points of disagreement are his salary and the length of a new contract, and the club had improved its terms before the latest rejection. Both sides are expected to keep talking, but no final decision has been made. A first offer was turned down in the summer of 2026, and the reports do not date the second rejection.

The club's option and the January deadline

Manchester United can extend Fernandes's contract by one year, to June 2028, without his agreement, but it has not used that option so far. If the option is not triggered by January, the player could negotiate a free transfer with foreign clubs in the summer. BBC Sport reports that, if no new deal is agreed, the club is almost certain to trigger the extension before 1 January, which would allow him to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs. Other reports say the club prefers to explore other options first and is weighing the player's wishes. One report says both sides still want him to stay at Old Trafford, although the 32-year-old's next contract is probably his last large one.

Carrick out, Pochettino in

Michael Carrick was sacked as head coach on Thursday, 12 November, after the club's worst start to a domestic campaign in 40 years, according to BBC Sport. Mauricio Pochettino is expected to replace him and is set to take charge for the first time when United face Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November. Reports describe the club's finances as particularly sensitive, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who leads INEOS, which runs the club, has pushed to cut costs and the wage bill. The BBC suggests United hope Pochettino's arrival will persuade Fernandes to commit his future to the club. SAPO reports that the team was in the relegation zone at matchday ten.

Season form and the Carrick dispute

Fernandes was named PFA Players' Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season for 2025/26, after setting a league assist record with 21 and helping United finish third. This season he has scored six goals, with BBC Sport counting 13 matches and SAPO counting 14. After a 3-1 Champions League defeat by Como, he criticised Carrick, and Blick reports he was dropped from the squad for one match. N-tv reports he was at times on the bench and later said he accepted the coach's decision. Across 341 matches for United, he has 113 goals and 108 assists, according to SAPO.

Goals for United113

Assists for United108

Goals for United

113

Assists for United

108

Data from the article text

Earlier interest from Saudi Arabia

Al-Hilal were reportedly willing to pay £100 million for Fernandes in the summer of 2025, offering wages of up to £700,000 a week, according to the Evening Standard. He stayed at United after talks with his family and then-head coach Ruben Amorim. SAPO reports that Galatasaray also reportedly offered a salary of 20 million euros a year, and that a 65 million euro release clause, which applied only to foreign clubs in the summer, has now expired. N-tv reports that he rejected the offers from Saudi Arabia. In an earlier interview with Canal 11, he named Spain, Italy and a return to Sporting as his preferred destinations.