Bruno Fernandes contract talks stall over deal length as United offer extension to 2029
Abdullateef Fowewe
Manchester United’s negotiations to renew captain Bruno Fernandes’ contract have hit a snag over the length of the proposed deal, with the club offering terms that would run until 2029 while the player’s representatives push for greater long-term security.
According to reports, United are prepared to table an initial three-year contract with at least one additional year as an option, taking the midfielder through to 2029 before any further extension is considered.
Fernandes’ camp, however, is seeking a more substantial commitment beyond that timeframe.
The financial package, including a significant wage rise, also remains under discussion.
United have already indicated they plan to exercise the option in Fernandes’ existing deal, which currently runs to 2027 and would keep him contracted until 2028.
Both sides remain willing to reach an agreement, though sources confirm a resolution is not imminent.
Fernandes, who turned 32 in September 2026, joined Manchester United from Sporting CP in January 2020 for an initial fee of around £47–65 million.
He quickly became one of the club’s most influential players, establishing himself as a creative force in midfield and later taking on the captaincy.
The Portugal international signed a contract extension in August 2024 that took him through to 2027 with a club option for an extra year.
He has delivered consistent goal contributions and leadership despite mixed team results in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
In the 2025–26 season he claimed major individual honours, including PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year recognition.
Interest from elsewhere has persisted.
Galatasaray made a lucrative approach in the summer of 2026, while Saudi clubs, notably Al-Hilal, previously tabled significant offers that Fernandes rejected in favour of staying at Old Trafford.
A release clause in his previous deal (reported around €65 million / £56–57 million, open to non-English clubs) has since expired or lapsed.
Club officials are balancing the desire to retain their talismanic captain against the realities of committing long-term to a player in his early thirties, with high wage commitments already present in the squad and recent cautionary examples of extended deals for ageing stars at other Premier League clubs.
Talks have been ongoing for several months, accelerating after Galatasaray stepped back, but key differences on duration and structure have yet to be bridged.
