Pochettino’s plan for Bruno Fernandes – with Man Utd confident of new deal

Manchester United are confident of agreeing a new contract with Bruno Fernandes, The i Paper understands. And Mauricio Pochettino, who starts work as the new United head coach next week, already has a plan for the club captain despite the Portuguese turning down a second contract offer this week. There is no panic within the club over his latest snub. Turning down early offers are all “part of the negotiation process”, a United source insisted, claiming “we will get there” in the coming months. Since the moment Fernandes walked in the door six-and-a-half years ago, the Portuguese magnifico’s dream move has not been anything like they said it would be in the brochure. It is not churlish to suggest Fernandes is the only signing of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson wilderness years who can look themselves in the mirror and say, with any authority, that they have lived up to expectations. But after falling out with the now-departed Michael Carrick and witnessing yet another year of failure at Old Trafford, those closest to Fernandes believe exit options are being considered. Fernandes and Carrick did not always see eye to eye at United (Photo: Getty) The i Paper has been told, however, that Pochettino will look to lean on Fernandes in a youthful United setup. Questions have been raised as to where Fernandes fits into a Pochettino team that puts emphasis on the collective, rather than the individual. Anything creative about United in the past few years has almost always come via the boot of last season’s record assist maker.A source who has worked with the Argentine at several clubs insisted, however, that Pochettino will “relish” having someone like Fernandes to guide his younger players, and will build his unit around the skipper, rather than remove the club’s most creative option from the team. Pochettino is famed for being adaptable and is not as wedded to his system as others. He also has a penchant for turning to youth, but only with senior, more experienced guides around them. Of which Fernandes can be one. It is hoped by those within the club that Pochettino’s arrival and opinion of Fernandes will persuade the 32-year-old to stay beyond his current contract, which expires next summer. There are plenty of suitors circling if Fernandes does feel change is needed. He admitted that he almost moved to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2025, while Bayern Munich and several other top European sides are monitoring the situation. For now, the club’s focus is formalising Pochettino’s arrival, with the former Tottenham boss confirmed as United’s eighth permanent manager in 13 years on Friday, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. The club maintain Pochettino was the only candidate they contacted directly, after receiving unanimous approval from everyone within the club’s leadership group and ownership, including the Glazers. Read more Kevin Garside: I saw Man Utd relegated in 1974 – there are three signs they’ll go down again Opinion: Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s treatment of Michael Carrick is shameful Pochettino will not start his new role until 18 November, after he has overseen his final two matches in charge of the USA national team, both against Haiti. It is unclear, at this stage, whether he requires a work permit to complete his move, and whether that would be in place in time for the Argentine to take charge of his first match, as planned, at Anfield next Sunday. Then he can start working on convincing the club’s best player in their recent history that achieving his goal of winning the Premier League one day is not completely forlorn after all.