Sporting Lisbon president calls out Manchester United over Bruno Fernandes chase

Manchester United have been desperately chasing Sporting Lisbon star Bruno Fernandes as they look to add to their summer rebuild for next season. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has placed the 24-year old on top of his transfer priority list but Sporting are demanding €70m for the Portuguese international.

Manchester United, however, are aware about Bruno’s €35m release clause but Sporting are unwilling to let him leave for such a minimal fee. The Portuguese Primeira club will reportedly have to pay Bruno’s camp €5m if they reject any concrete bid over the €35m-mark. The midfielder will also be eligible for a hefty pay rise.

Sporting Lisbon, therefore, find themselves in a fix as they juggle between a losing a big-money sale or having to compensate €5m plus significantly increase the player’s wages. Manchester United, on the other hand, are not willing to pay such a hefty amount for Bruno. However, that could immediately change if Paul Pogba’s rumoured move to Real Madrid takes place in the coming weeks.

Manchester United recently improved their bid for Bruno Fernandes to an amount over €50m as they thought it will be enough to get their man. However, Sporting Lison president Frederico Varandas has publicly laughed off United’s offer. 

“I don’t know if there are many or if there are few [interested clubs],’ Varandas told Portuguese outlet RTP. “What I know, a lot has been spoken of values, coming to the press, €55m, €62m. for that price he doesn’t leave, for sure. If he does leave, players with quality will come.”

Miguel Pinho, the agent of Bruno Fernandes, has frequently travelled to London to get his client’s values higher. Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported that a potential agreement between the clubs is “speeding up” as the transfer window deadline on 8th August comes closer.

Bruno Fernandes recently won the inaugural UEFA Nations League tournament with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. The midfielder was called up to the national squad following a prolific campaign in the Portuguese top-flight as he scored 31 goals in 50 appearances for Sporting. 

Bruno has spoken about his “dream move” to England. “Obviously if an irrefutable proposal for me arrives, and it’s good for the club, let’s get together and decide together,” he said. 

“I always said that I was an ambitious player and from a very early age I have had a dream of playing in England, where you can live pure football without big controversy, without big cases. Now, any of the other leagues, Germany, Spain and Italy are also very good and ambitious.”