Bruno Fernandes has been in great form as Manchester United enjoy a resurgence under Michael Carrick, but this could be his last season at the club, believes Paul Scholes.
The 31-year-old arrived at Old Trafford in January 2020 and has been a shining light during a difficult time for the club.
The Red Devils may not be winning titles like they used to, but Fernandes has been consistently good, scoring 104 goals in 314 games since he signed from Sporting.
The Portugal international has also been a regular provider of goals, topping the charts this season in the Premier League with 12.
Fernandes has been pushed forward by interim manager Michael Carrick after dropping deeper in midfield under former boss Ruben Amorim, which seems to be working out very nicely for him and the side in general.
Four matches under Carrick have produced four victories, with Fernandes providing four assists and scoring once over that period.
He remains under contract until the summer of 2027, with an option for a further year, but Scholes reckons the iconic midfielder could leave in the summer.
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Fernandes was strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last year and Scholes thinks that option will be too good to turn down again.
‘I worry about the Saudi thing with him, because I don’t think that was far away last year and I wouldn’t be surprised if something like that came up again,’ the Manchester United legend said on The Good, The Bad and The Football.
‘We can’t answer for him, but I think the lure of that money might take him away to Saudi.’
Nicky Butt feels the impressive upturn in performances and results under Carrick may see Fernandes stay, along with the brilliant atmosphere that has been created at Old Trafford.
However, that will depend on whether Carrick remains in charge next season and who replaces him if he doesn’t.
‘I think it depends what manager comes in, if Michael stays or whoever the next manager that comes in will have a big effect on if Bruno stays or not,’ said Butt.
‘Last year he would have been feeling really down. Right now, where he is now, if this continues, the upness, the crowd, because Bruno would never have experienced the crowd like it’s been the last three or four games.
‘He would never have experienced what he experienced in the last three games.’
Fernandes grabbed headlines in December last year by claiming the club was keen to sell him amid interest from the Saudi Pro Legaue.
‘In England, when a player starts approaching 30, they start thinking they need a makeover. It’s like the furniture,’ he told Canal 11.
‘I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely love the club. The conversation with the manager also made me stay.
Bruno Fernandes Premier League stats
Apps: 217
Goals: 68
Assists: 63
‘But, from the club’s side, I felt a bit like, “if you leave, it’s not so bad for us.”
‘It hurts me a bit. More than hurting, it makes me sad because I’m a player who has nothing to criticise.
‘I’m always available, I always play, good or bad. I give my all. Then, you see things around you, players who don’t value the club as much and don’t defend the club as much… that makes you sad.’
