Fernandes nearly QUIT Man Utd due to European Super League

Tom Grant
  • 20 Oct 2021 15:44 BST
  • 3 min read
Bruno Fernandes rapidly established himself as Man Utd’s key player after arriving from Sporting CP
© ProShots

Manchester United favourite Bruno Fernandes would have pushed to leave the club had the European Super League proposals gone ahead.

And Fernandes wasn't the only player unhappy at United when plans to form a breakaway league were announced in April.

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The revelations come after an investigation by The Athletic into Ed Woodward's role in the Super League.

The United vice-chairman resigned shortly after the plot went public after a backlash from fans and pundits.

But the news that Fernandes considered handing in a transfer request because of it has come as a shock to fans.

What did Fernandes say?

During a hectic 48-hours following the ESL revelation on Sunday, April 18, Woodward and football director John Murtough met United players on a Zoom call during the player's day off on Monday afternoon.

Former Man Utd chief executive Ed Woodward
© ProShots

Some logged on to the call from 'mini getaways' and were told by Woodward and Murtough of the benefits the new competition would bring.

The players, led initially by Luke Shaw, voiced their concern about the impact such a move would have on their international prospects as well as the feeling they were being treated as assets rather than human beings.

Fernandes then stated his disapproval of the no-relegation concept and was so unhappy about it he would have left United had it all gone through.

The Portuguese man then took to his Instagram to write "Dreams can't be bought" shortly after the meeting.

At the same time, Marcus Rashford posted a picture of a banner in the Stretford End of Old Trafford that read: "Football is nothing without fans."

Would United miss Fernandes?

Bruno Fernandes has been vital to Manchester United since his arrival for £56.7million in January 2020.

His signing undoubtedly helped the Red Devils finish second in the Premier League last year and he has already contributed 44 goals and 29 assists in just 91 appearances.

He remains an important player at United and a player they will want to build their squad around in search of both domestic and European success.

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