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Feature
- 14 hours ago
Amorim ends two Man Utd careers with €100m Bruno Fernandes decision
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 31 Mar 2025 09:59 BST
- 7 min read
Analysis
Real Madrid emerged as €100 million contenders to sign Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United in a stunning transfer report on Sunday only to be knocked swiftly back by head coach Ruben Amorim.
Los Blancos were surprisingly linked with the 30-year-old Portugal star in a move that would dramatically buck the recent trend of the Bernabeu side seeking to focus on promising young players with sell-on value.
Current ETV
Bruno Fernandes
AM, M (C)
Man Utd
Bruno Fernandes
AM, M (C)
Man Utd
ETV Range
€54.4M - €66.4M
Jude Bellingham, of course, was recruited for the No.10 role at the Bernabeu in a €113 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund just 18 months ago and has thrived in Spain, albeit his role has changed following Kylian Mbappe’s summer arrival.
Bruno would provide a more controlled alternative to the all-action Englishman. But for all that he remains a player at the top of the game, Real Madrid surely have other areas to concentrate on than recruiting another lavish playmaker.
But the point is moot. Ruben Amorim has already decided that he will not be parted with his general even for the princely price of €100m, according to the Daily Record.
While this says a great deal about how much Bruno is admired at Old Trafford – and as the Premier League’s best attacking midfielder this season, according to SciSports, he deserves this status – it also casts further doubt on the future of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.
Bruno Fernandes vs Premier League attacking midfielders: Overall performance 2024/25
Mainoo and Garnacho sacrificed to keep Bruno?
Man Utd are not in a straightforward financial position. Amorim has already indicated that sales are required before the club can begin the substantial reconstruction work that is so obviously required.
Offloading Bruno, who is approaching the veteran stage of his career, for €100m would have softened the blow a good deal. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) sits at €60.4m while there are a couple of years left on his contract. There is little doubt that the price was a good one for United.
With few sellable assets, this decision sees eyes turn towards Mainoo and Garnacho once again.
The pair were linked with moves in January, and though both are fan favourites, the call to retain Bruno comes at the expense of the academy graduates.
United need to raise money somehow to fund their renovation project, and this pair looks their likeliest hope.
Mainoo has an ETV of €54.8m and Garnacho €66.1m – a combined €120m. While this is a little more than one big Bruno Fernandes deal, it shows that Amorim is prepared to sacrifice two of the club’s brightest young talents to retain his most important player.
