EXCLUSIVE: Lee Sharpe believes Bruno Fernandes will stay. (Image: Getty)
won’t want to leave in the summer transfer window despite the club falling way short of his public expectations this season, according to Lee Sharpe. The Red Devils’ second successive season of misery has further fuelled speculation surrounding Fernandes’ future after the club captain revealed he had an offer to leave last summer.
He opted to buy into INEOS’ vision and commit his future to Old Trafford, extending his contract with improved terms until 2027. However, since he penned a new deal, has been sacked, sporting director Dan Ashworth has departed after just five months, and this season has been even worse than last. United’s latest struggles haven’t even been close to the expectations Fernandes laid out in May.
Ahead of last term’s FA Cup final victory against , Fernandes laid out his standards in an open letter to fans.
“I just want my expectations to fit with the expectations of the club. If you go talk to any fan, they will tell you the same thing,” Fernandes wrote in .
“We want to compete for the league. We want to be playing Champions League football. We want to be in cup finals. That is the standard. That is what I want. That is what you all deserve.”
With United languishing in 14th in the Premier League and out of both domestic cup competitions, they are unlikely to be in European football at all next season.
Bruno Fernandes is Man Utd’s talisman. (Image: Getty)
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Lifting the Europa League would secure passage into the Champions League, but the May 21 final in Bilbao feels like a long way away.
Many supporters won’t blame Fernandes for seeking a new challenge at the end of the campaign if United don’t achieve European glory in the coming months.
However, Sharpe is confident the 30-year-old midfielder will be at Old Trafford next season as a crucial cog in ‘s machine.
“I don’t think he’s going anywhere. I think he loves being captain of . I think he’s an influential player on and off the pitch, around the club,” the ex-United winger told Express Sport with BetBrain.
“He’s certainly got the backing of the manager and INEOS, so I don’t foresee him going anywhere. I think he’s on pretty good terms with the manager being Portuguese.
“I think he’ll see that the manager’s philosophy and what the club are trying to do, and getting rid of some players, and bringing a lot of new players in.
“And I think he’ll love all that. I think he’ll love the positivity. He’ll love the uplift. He’ll love better players coming in. And I think it’ll suit everybody. I don’t think he’ll be going anywhere in the summer.”