- Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has defended his teammates after Jim Ratcliffe suggested some players were "overpaid" and "not good enough"
- Fernandes insisted that players are not responsible for contract negotiations and that it is up to the club to agree on salaries and transfer fees
- The Portuguese star also delivered a perfect response on the pitch, scoring a hat-trick in United’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad in the Europa League
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has defended his teammates following comments made by club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who suggested that some players at the club were "overpaid" and "not good enough."
Ratcliffe, who recently acquired a minority stake in the club, made a series of media appearances where he praised Fernandes but also criticised past transfer decisions, singling out the acquisitions of Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund, and Andre Onana as examples of costly deals that United were still paying for.
However, Fernandes was quick to refute the suggestion that players were at fault for the contracts they signed.
Speaking after United’s dominant 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the Europa League, where he scored a hat-trick, the Portuguese midfielder insisted that contract negotiations are a club decision, not a player’s responsibility,
“It’s not nice to hear certain things, obviously, I don’t think any player likes to hear criticism or that they are not good enough or overpaid. But at the end of the day, everyone has their own contract, and the club agreed to those terms,” Fernandes admitted.
Fernandes, who has been one of United’s standout performers this season with 15 goals, emphasised that players are only responsible for proving their worth on the pitch, not dictating the financial terms offered by the club.
Despite United’s struggles this season, sitting 13th in the Premier League and eliminated from both domestic cup competitions, the Europa League remains their last shot at silverware. Fernandes’ leadership has been impressive, and he reaffirmed his commitment to the club amidst speculation about his future.
Notably, he revealed that he had the opportunity to leave Old Trafford last summer but ultimately decided to stay after discussions with the club and then-manager Erik ten Hag,
“I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave, I wanted to know if they still saw me as part of the future. Both the club and the manager were very clear, they believed I would play a big role in the rebuild, and I believed we could be successful,” Fernandes said.
Despite the criticism, Fernandes remains a key figure at United, determined to turn the club’s fortunes around as captain.
Amorim to offload two Man Utd stars in January transfer window
Previously, TheRadar reported that Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim appears ready to make bold decisions regarding his squad, as reports from Manchester suggest the Portuguese tactician is prepared to offload two high-profile players during the January transfer window.
The former Sporting CP manager, who replaced Erik ten Hag in November, has endured a turbulent start at Old Trafford and is eager to reshape his team for the remainder of the season.
