Bruno Fernandes has said he is open to leaving Manchester United should the club wish, after their defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final on Wednesday night.
Man Utd’s financial turmoil is well known, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe revealing in an interview earlier this year that the club “would have run out of money” by the end of the year if extreme cost-cutting measures were not put in place.
These measures include hundreds of staff lay-offs and slashing ambassadorial roles, leaving club legend Sir Alex Ferguson’s position ruthlessly cut.
Wednesday’s Europa League final provided the opportunity for the victor to gain excess of £100million of additional revenue through prize money and their qualification to the Champions League.
Spurs beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final on Wednesday
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This was crucial in the Red Devil’s efforts at a rebuild for next season, in order to attract high-profile players but, importantly, be able to afford them in the first place.
Due to their financial predicament, it has been reported the club are open to offers for youngsters such as Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, as any deal would present significant profit for the club.
Despite boss Ruben Amorim claiming Fernandes was “not for sale” in March, the United captain revealed that he would leave the club if the club told him it was “time to go”.
Speaking after the loss, Fernandes said: “I have always been honest. If the club thinks it's time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it's what it is.
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Bruno Fernandes said 'it is what it is' regarding his future
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“Football sometimes is like this. I've always said I will be here until the club says to me that it's time to go.
“I’m eager to do more, to be able to bring the club to the great days. The day that the club thinks that I'm too much or it's time to part ways, football is like this, you never know it.”
Fernandes has been the subject of speculation from a host of clubs from the Saudi Pro League, along with La Liga giants Real Madrid.
However, the Portuguese international insisted he would only leave the club if they required cash-in.
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Positively for United, Fernandes is currently tied to a contract until 2027 and has the option to extend it by another 12 months.
The United captain reiterated his confidence in fellow countryman Amorim’s ability to lead the club, saying: “It’s not my decision, but I do think the manager is the right one.
“I don’t think that it will be a better person to come into the job and to do the job. I know it’s difficult to understand that, it’s difficult to see that, but I still do think that he’s the right man to lead the club.”
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Despite the loss, Bruno Fernandes insisted boss Ruben Amorim was the 'the right man to lead the club'
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Fernandes did admit, however, that it would be “easier” for United to replace Amorim after his woeful start: “I do think that obviously, the club is in a situation where it’s easier to get a different one in because the results haven’t been there.
“But as my other teammates said, and I repeat myself, I do think he’s the right man.”
The midfielder expressed his frustration with the team’s performance on the night, as well as blasting their season as “unacceptable”.
“It’s very sad. We wanted to win this final more than anything. It's a very sad day because we've done some very good things in this competition until today,” Fernandes said.
“But today was the day that mattered, the most important day of the competition. It was the day we could have been in the history of the Europa League, but it's not like that.
“Football is cruel, and it's been our turn to lose. The players have said that this season has been unacceptable.”
United fans will be hoping their clash against Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season will not be Fernandes’ final for the club, as they will rely on him to right the wrongs of this season.
