Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring the second goal during the UEFA Champions league group H football match between Manchester United and Istanbul Basaksehir at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, north west England, on November 24, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Mirror (h/t Daily Star), Manchester United are set to double the wages of Bruno Fernandes by offering him a new contract. The Portuguese, who only joined the club last year, is said to be earning £100,000-a-week, which could be doubled to reflect his contributions. He has become an indispensable part of the club during his stay.
When Manchester United decided to sign Fernandes in January for a transfer fee that could go up to €80million, a lot of eyebrows were raised. Even though he had good numbers in front of goal, it remained to be seen whether he could cut it in a league such as the Premier League.
If you need proof of what Bruno Fernandes has become for Manchester United, you need only watch the first and second halves of the West Ham game in the Premier League played on 5th December.
The playmaker was rested for getting a knock and a crucial Champions League game on the horizon. For 45 minutes, United looked clueless as a team while being down by a goal.
Yet as Solskjaer threw on Fernandes, you could see what difference it made. United ended the game 3-1. The mercurial Portuguese has been phenomenal since the time he put on a red shirt.
For a midfielder, he has scarcely believable numbers in front of goal, with 22 goals and 14 assists. Stats aside, it is what he brings to the team as a player that matters. He gives the team’s attack a sense of direction and purpose. Never afraid to take the risk, he will push the ball forward rather than opting for a safe back pass.
His influence brings out the best in everyone around him. The winning mentality rubs off on everyone and they raise their own game. It’s hard to find such characters in football these days and Manchester United can count themselves lucky.
A new and improved contract is the least they can offer to a player who has changed the fortunes of the club and given them hope when it looked like there was none.
