Bruno Fernandes delivered a withering assessment of Manchester United’s leadership after insisting the club’s directors wanted him sold last summer but “did not have the courage” to complete the deal. The captain said the only reason he remained at Old Trafford was the backing of head coach Rúben Amorim, whose admiration for the playmaker is encapsulated in a declared transfer aim: “We need more Brunos.”

Fernandes told Canal 11, a report relayed by Maisfutebol, that he could have engineered an exit in the same manner as other players. “I could have left as many people do and said: ‘I want to leave, I don’t want to train, I just want to leave for €20 or €30 million, so that they pay me more on the other side.’ But I never did,” he said.

He added: “I never felt in a position to do it, because I thought the empathy and affection that I had for the club were the same. But it comes to a point where, for them, money is more important than anything. The club wanted me to go, I have that in my head. I said that to the directors, but I think they did not have the courage to make this decision, because the coach wanted me. If I had said I wanted to leave, they would have let me go.”

The timing of the dispute coincided with reports that Al Hilal offered a £100 million fee for the midfielder, a sum that would have helped United rebuild after a season in which the club failed to qualify for any European competition. United ultimately kept Fernandes and spent around £200 million on a new frontline, though the squad still requires further reinforcements in midfield and defence.

Fernandes spoke candidly about his standing inside the club: “As long as you don’t win trophies, you’re not valued as much, regardless of the club and league you’re in,” and “The question of loyalty is not seen as before.” He said his decision to remain was influenced by family and the coach: “I decided [to stay], also because of the family issue, but for genuinely liking the club.”

He confirmed ongoing interest from Saudi Arabia, recalling contact from Al Hilal and figures connected to Jorge Jesus and Rúben Neves: “The president of Al Hilal spoke to me, he called me directly,” and “Rúben Neves sent me a message saying he wanted to talk to me.” On the emotional toll, he concluded: “I do my best. Then you see things around you, players who don’t value the club so much and don’t defend the club so much … that makes you sad.”

Ruben Amorim moved to deflect attention from Manchester United’s shape and instead highlighted a mental issue he believes is driving their inconsistent results.

After a chaotic fixture at Old Trafford that prompted widespread discussion about systems, Amorim gave little away. “That is for you to discuss, not me,” he smiled when quizzed by befuddled journalists in his postmatch press conference. He added: “I will say the same thing, you can play with the same players it looks like one thing [and] is another thing,” he cryptically added before addressing the reports which had filtered through the press ahead of Monday’s game. “I know that you guys know that I trained this week the back four—I don’t know how [you know]—but that is a good thing for you guys to discuss.”

Amad Diallo offered a player’s perspective on the club website, stressing adaptability. “I think it depends on the opponent. We work depending on the opponent, when sometimes we play as a 4-4-2, sometimes we play as a 3-4-3, sometimes also we play 4-3-3, maybe people outside don’t see. As a team, we can change. “But the system doesn’t matter for us,” was the key message from Amad. One which Amorim shared.

Amorim underlined the finer points that, in his view, are costing points. “We are not winning games sometimes in the details not because it’s a back four, back three, back five,” Amorim told Sky Sports. “It’s the details that we need to work, understand the momentum of the game. You need to be more clinical, because today against a very good team we create so many chances to win the game.”

A more urgent issue is a pattern of conceding clustered goals. In five matches this season the opposition scored twice within 11 minutes or less: Grimsby (22’, 30’), Burnley (55’, 66’), Nottingham Forest (48’, 50’), Tottenham (84’, 90’+1) and Bournemouth (46’, 52’). After Bournemouth’s quick double Amorim said: “We lost the concentration and they scored two goals”.

Tactical changes against Bournemouth were limited, but the manager acknowledged upcoming selection challenges. Amad and Bryan Mbeumo have played their final matches before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, and Noussair Mazraoui has already joined up with Morocco. “That is the fun part of being a manager—you will try to find solutions with the players that we have,” he grinned. “After the last season, I think we are ready to cope with whatever they present in front of us. ]

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has framed his handling of Kobbie Mainoo around squad balance and the wider fortunes of several academy graduates. Amorim said his 3-4-2-1 formation does not play to Mainoo’s natural strengths and pointed to recent examples among the club’s youngsters to explain limited minutes.

“[Collyer] is from the academy, he played here, went to West Bromwich [Albion] and he’s not playing,” Amorim highlighted. “He played for Manchester United, so sometimes it’s not because he’s from the academy or whatever. It’s the situation that’s happened.”

Amorim added that opportunities are decided by training and match performance. “The door is open for any player to change my mind. But in the end, it’s going to be the training, the games. Of course, he’s not playing so many games, but Kobbs, he had opportunities, especially last year. Everyone had [opportunities]. Especially last year, everyone has.

“Amass is now struggling in the Championship. Chido is not always a starter in U21s. All these guys played when a lot of people were saying, ‘Sack the manager.’ You can see that I’m not worried. I just look at the team and try to win the next game. I will do that until the end.”

Mainoo was reportedly open to a loan move in the summer but the club declined the request. Amorim said there have been no winter-exit talks to date and stressed communication with the player would be welcomed. “First of all, the team comes first,” Amorim vowed. “If Kobbie comes to me and talks to me, I will talk to him.

“I’m not going to say what I’m going to say to Kobbie, but I will be really pleased if Kobbie is coming to talk to me about that. I just want my players [to be] happy and understand that every individual has their goals. The frustration doesn’t help anybody.

“I had some conversations with him, especially last year, and with other players, but about that subject, no, I didn’t speak with him.”

Amorim acknowledged the broader context: Mainoo is one of few senior academy representatives after the summer departures of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, with an 88-year run of including a graduate in matchday squads at risk. The manager has admitted concern about ending that streak and The Telegraph note some inside United have concerns about how Mainoo has been handled. “Of course [I rate Mainoo], like everyone else,” Amorim insisted. “The problem is we are playing with two [midfielders] and you guys see Kobbie in a different way than I’m seeing.

“Maybe if you play with three midfielders, not with just two, Kobbie will have more minutes. Imagine that this happens. Someone in front is going to lose their spot. Sometimes it’s just the moment.

“I think I proved that if you change my mind [you can get into the team]. Casemiro is the biggest example. He was behind Toby and now he is a starter.

“Kobbs is one more player that I understand all the interests. I understand how important it is. The hopes that you guys and English guys have. I also just want to win. If he’s the right guy, I will put him in. No problem.”