Bruno Fernandes is causing unrest at Manchester United with his public statements – and is suddenly being linked with FC Bayern. But how realistic is a transfer really?
Bruno Fernandes has caused a lot of controversy in England with a frustrating interview. The Manchester United captain recently expressed his disappointment at the way the club’s management had dealt with him and gave a deep insight. Statements like this rarely remain without consequences in the soccer world – especially not when it comes to an internationally renowned playmaker. Speculation about a possible departure from Old Trafford immediately grew louder and, as is so often the case, the name of FC Bayern came up in this context
Frustration in Manchester triggers new speculation
The discussions were triggered by Fernandes‘ clear criticism of Manchester United’s management. The Portuguese explained that the club had been quite prepared to sell him to Saudi Arabia in the summer. Only the veto of coach Ruben Amorim had prevented a transfer. This was obviously a painful moment for Fernandes, as he does not feel sufficiently valued by this attitude. The fact that a captain and top performer chooses such words publicly is a clear signal – also to potential suitors
According to the British Sun, several top European clubs are looking into the 31-year-old’s situation. In addition to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, FC Bayern are also mentioned. In Munich, the future of Leon Goretzka, whose contract is expiring and whose role under Vincent Kompany is becoming increasingly smaller, is currently the subject of intense discussion. From a purely sporting point of view, a mind game could therefore be constructed: Fernandes as an experienced midfielder with leadership qualities who takes responsibility and can direct games
But this is where the theory ends, because a closer look at Bayern’s reality quickly shows why a transfer of Bruno Fernandes to the Isar is extremely unlikely. The record champions are in the middle of a structural realignment. Max Eberl and Christoph Freund are clearly pursuing the goal of rejuvenating the squad and streamlining the salary structure. Players over the age of 30 are only signed in exceptional cases – and then usually on a free transfer or with a manageable financial risk
Fernandes does not fit the Bayern profile
Fernandes hardly fits this profile. His rumoured annual salary of around 22 million euros would immediately elevate him into the ranks of the top earners – a scenario that Bayern would actually like to avoid after their recent experiences with high-paying contracts. Added to this is a possible transfer fee of well over 60 million euros should Manchester United agree to a sale. For a player who is already 31 years old, this would hardly be economically justifiable from Munich’s point of view
The question of added value also arises from a sporting perspective. FC Bayern relies on Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic and young solutions such as Tom Bischof in the center. Fernandes would not be a development player, but a short-term fixture – which is exactly what they are increasingly trying to avoid at Säbener Straße
Should Fernandes actually leave Manchester United, there are currently more indications of a move to Saudi Arabia, where both his financial expectations and the transfer fee demands could easily be met. For FC Bayern, on the other hand, the following applies: interesting on paper, but hardly compatible with the current strategy.