Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has made clear his immediate objective is to help the club rediscover its best form and push back up the Premier League table. According to reports, Fernandes believes Ruben Amorim’s side have what it takes to qualify for the Champions League this season and has expressed confidence United can climb into the top five and secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

Fernandes has publicly aligned himself with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s long-term vision for the club while insisting the squad can deliver in the short term. That belief marks a significant reset after a difficult previous campaign in which United finished 15th with 42 points, a tally described as closer to the relegation zone than the top five.

The Portugal international turned down a switch to Saudi Arabia in the summer, confirming he did not hesitate to snub the approach when United revealed their desire to continue working together. That decision underlined his commitment to remain at Old Trafford and to contribute to the club’s recovery.

Despite reported interest from clubs in the Middle East following a challenging start to the season, Fernandes has repeatedly indicated a desire to stay. He is not interested in a move away from Old Trafford but has admitted he will not cause any issues for the club if they decide to accept an offer for his services. While a transfer to Saudi Arabia is not thought to appeal to Fernandes, he would look for another club if asked to do so by United.

The message from Fernandes is straightforward: he has bought into the project and expects United to be competitive again. With ownership and leadership aligned on a plan, Fernandes has set clear short-term expectations for the squad to improve their league position and to re-establish themselves among Europe’s elite.

Bruno Fernandes has accepted a deeper midfield assignment this season as Manchester United search for consistency, stressing that team success matters more than his position. The United skipper has been moved into a two-man midfield within Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system after previously operating in one of the attacking roles.

That tactical switch has prompted debate given Fernandes’ attacking output, but the 31-year-old said he is prepared to adjust if it helps the Red Devils. He made his comments before Portugal’s clash with Ireland. “I like playing football, regardless of the position, I’ll do my best,” Fernandes revealed. “Everyone has their favourite positions. In a space with a lot of quality, you have to adapt. I played these positions with Jorge Jesus at Sporting CP.

“When you’re up front, you can find more space, the risk is lower. When I play [as the No.10], the goal is to create plays, to finish. I adapt to the team game. The most important thing is to win, I want to play as well as possible.” His willingness to switch roles is clear, but the broader issue for United remains turning performances into results.

United have made an underwhelming start to the season, collecting ten points from their seven Premier League matches. Fernandes has also faced scrutiny after missing two crucial penalties in west London, against Fulham and Brentford. Asked about those spot kicks, he admitted the matter needs attention: “It’s something I have to study better,” Fernandes replied when quizzed about his failed spot kicks. “I like watching the goalkeepers. It’s not that they’ve been very good this year, they’re moments that depend on me, and unfortunately, there were two in which I wasn’t at my best.”

For now the story is less about position and more about output. Fernandes has signalled readiness to adapt within Amorim’s setup, but the clearest test will be whether that flexibility delivers the wins United need.

Bruno Fernandes addressed growing talk about a possible move to Saudi Arabia while on international duty, insisting his focus remains on the national team even as speculation intensifies. The Manchester United midfielder described the idea of leaving next summer as difficult to picture but stopped short of ruling out a surprise departure from Old Trafford.

“That’s an impossible scenario to imagine, because it’s nothing that’s been discussed with me,” he stressed. The 31-year-old said he prefers to remain present and concentrate on current commitments. “I like to enjoy the moment, and the most important thing for me now is representing the national team.

“It’s a source of enormous pride to be able to play [for Portugal on Saturday], and I still don’t know if I’ll play, let alone if I’ll leave Manchester United in a year.

“It’s not something that worries me. I’m happy where I am, otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed. But it’s something that honestly doesn’t really bother me.”

United’s poor start to the season has renewed transfer chatter, with rumours placing a Saudi move in 2026 and some reports even suggesting January as a possibility. Fernandes’ commitment to winning with United has been clear in his public comments, and discussions over his future did take place this past summer.

Talks followed remarks from Fernandes about how the club might view a £100 million fee. When club officials made clear they did not want to lose him, he moved to close down talk of an immediate exit while qualifying his stance.

“I didn’t close the door on moving to Saudi Arabia because of the World Cup ,” Fernandes explained. “That was never in my mind.

“I wanted to stay at Manchester United, and the club wanted me to stay. That’s all there is to it.”

For now, Fernandes has framed his priorities around national team duty and continuing to compete for trophies with United, leaving his future open but rooted in the present.