Reports that Bruno Fernandes’ Manchester United contract contains an overseas-only release clause have intensified debate over the midfielder’s future at Old Trafford. The Daily Mail says the clause is set at £56.6 million ($75.7 million) and would apply only to clubs outside the Premier League.

The story followed a high-profile interview in which Fernandes said, “United did, in fact, want to sell him to Al Hilal but lacked the guts to tell him to his face.” That remark, alongside his admitted interest in playing in La Liga and Serie A, has prompted fresh speculation about potential moves abroad.

Despite Fernandes’s comments, public messaging from the club has been firm. According to Fabrizio Romano, those in charge at United are adamant Fernandes still has a place at Old Trafford, and the club made it clear they have no plans to sell the 31-year-old.

Transfer timing is a key factor. Sources in the report suggest any exit this January is unlikely, while a move in the summer remains possible. The player is expected to consider his future around the World Cup and could draw renewed interest from Saudi suitors. His openness about Spain and Italy could also encourage offers from clubs in those leagues, while a desire to return to Lisbon and Sporting before retirement has also been mentioned in coverage.

Ultimately, the decision appears to rest with Manchester United. The club are reportedly planning an expensive midfield overhaul and retain control over any sale. For now, Fernandes has repeatedly stressed his wish to stay so long as he is wanted, while also signalling he would accept a departure if the club decided to sell.

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. ]