Man Utd: Romano discloses three factors that will determine Fernandes' future following discussions with Bayern and Barcelona.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has provided his current understanding of the interest in Man Utd midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

The Portugal international has been pivotal for the Red Devils in recent seasons, delivering crucial goals and assists. Despite this, his on-field demeanor has drawn criticism, with some former players and pundits questioning his suitability as captain.

Man Utd had a disappointing Premier League season, finishing eighth, and were eliminated from Europe before Christmas after finishing last in their Champions League group. They salvaged some pride by winning the FA Cup last month, yet rumors persist that Ten Hag could be dismissed over the summer.

Fernandes' future has also been in doubt following ambiguous comments he made early last month, which attracted interest from various clubs. However, his more recent statements have suggested a commitment to staying at Man Utd, emphasizing his lifelong dream of playing at Old Trafford.

Fernandes stated: “I love to step out at Old Trafford more than anything in the world. I don’t want to leave. This has always been my ultimate dream. I just want my expectations to fit with the expectations of the club. If you go talk to any fan, they will tell you the same thing. We want to compete for the league. We want to be playing Champions League football. We want to be in cup finals. That is the standard.”

Despite these reassurances, reports over the weekend indicated that Fernandes' agent had been in talks with Bayern Munich and Barcelona about a possible transfer. Romano addressed this in his Caught Offside column: “There’s been a lot written again about the future of Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United, with the Portuguese press claiming that there have been some contacts with both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and that approaches could come soon. There will inevitably be a lot written about this, so I wanted to clarify my current understanding of the situation here.

“The reality is that Fernandes’ agent Miguel Pinho has met with some European top clubs last week. Contacts took place, but the player remains focused on Man United and his exit is not something decided at this point. It will also depend on Man United’s new project, what happens with the manager, what they will ‘present’ to Bruno in new meetings.

“It’s a stand-by moment between Fernandes and Man United, waiting to make a final decision with a new contract for the player also being a possibility in case he decides to stay.”