Turkish champion offers €50 million transfer fee and doubled salary for Fernandes! Manchester United insists he is not for sale, already in contract renewal talks.

Manchester United have begun contract negotiations with Bruno Fernandes after Turkish champions Galatasaray made a lucrative offer. The 31-year-old Fernandes' current contract was signed in August 2024, valid until 2027, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months.

According to The Athletic, Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek offered Fernandes an annual salary of €20 million, approximately £17.1 million, equivalent to £340,000 per week. The Sun reported it as £370,000 per week (£18.3 million annually). In any case, it is slightly higher than the £300,000 per week he currently earns at Manchester United.

Moreover, due to Turkey's tax incentives, Fernandes' net income would increase significantly, roughly double his current take-home pay. The contract offered by Galatasaray is for four years, with a signing bonus of £3 million. However, Fernandes has expressed his desire to stay at Manchester United and has already begun discussions on a new contract.

Previously, Fernandes' release clause was €65 million (£57 million) and was only valid for overseas clubs, but the clause expired last month. Manchester United have stated they have no intention of selling Fernandes after the clause expired, and emphasized that they have not received any contact from any club.

Last year, Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal pursued Fernandes. Manchester United were willing to sell, but the player did not agree. At the time, head coach Ruben Amorim also requested to keep his Portuguese compatriot, so the transfer did not proceed. That experience led Fernandes to publicly express that he felt hurt.

In recent years, Galatasaray have made a series of blockbuster signings, including Victor Osimhen from Napoli in 2024 and Leroy Sané from Bayern Munich last summer. They also made a €45 million offer for Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, but the player himself rejected the transfer.

After helping Portugal reach the World Cup round of 16, Fernandes returned to Manchester United's pre-season training this month and played in the last three friendly matches. Although he missed two consecutive penalties, in the final warm-up game against AC Milan, the Red Devils' captain played the full match, indicating he remains the absolute core for the new season.

BBC's Simon Stone revealed that Galatasaray plan to bid €50 million (£43 million) for Fernandes, but Manchester United told them it was a waste of time and that they would not sell the Portuguese international under any circumstances. Unlike last year, this time United have made their stance clear: they want to keep Fernandes.

On the player's side, Fernandes, who turns 32 next month, is also more willing to stay. He admits that a big contract is a huge temptation but emphasizes that football always comes first, and he desires to win major trophies at Manchester United. Now, the same principle seems to apply again: despite Galatasaray's high salary offer, Fernandes still wants to remain at Old Trafford.

However, so far, negotiations between Fernandes and Manchester United regarding a contract extension have not reached an agreement. The main dispute is over wages. Fernandes' agent will demand a weekly salary close to £400,000, while Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants him to lower his basic salary and increase the bonus portion.

The reason Manchester United are determined to keep Fernandes is primarily because his role on and off the pitch is currently irreplaceable. In the 2025/26 season, Fernandes was named Player of the Season, scoring 9 goals in the Premier League while providing a record-breaking 21 assists, smashing the historical record for assists in a single league season, and leading the Red Devils back to the Champions League.

Since joining from Sporting Lisbon for £47 million in January 2020, Fernandes has made 327 appearances, scoring 107 goals. He has been named Manchester United's Player of the Season five times in six and a half seasons. Starting from the 2023/24 season, he also replaced Harry Maguire as club captain.

Fernandes' importance to the team is evident, and his off-field influence is equally profound. During pre-season, whether in Dublin, Ireland or Wrocław, Poland, he was the most popular player among fans. Fernandes always spends hours signing autographs for fans and is also eager to mentor Manchester United's academy players. The value brought by these qualities is immeasurable.

If the club fails to show Manchester United fans that they are doing everything possible to keep their core players, Sir Jim Ratcliffe will certainly be criticized.