Amorim hellbent on keeping Fernandes at Manchester United

Ruben Amorim to try everything possible to keep Bruno Fernandes

Ruben Amorim has no intention of allowing Bruno Fernandes to leave Manchester United this summer.

Fernandes has been United’s standout performer this season, as the Red Devils have struggled in the Premier League but put themselves on the brink of progressing to the Europa League final.

The Portugal international netted twice in last week’s 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of United’s semi-final tie with the Basque club.

However, the 30-year-old is reportedly a target for Al-Hilal, with superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema having been among the names to sign for Saudi Pro League clubs over the past two years.

But Amorim made United’s intention clear when it comes to their captain’s future.

“Our idea didn’t change,” he said ahead of facing Bilbao at Old Trafford on Thursday.

“We want to keep the best players – and Bruno is clearly one of the top players in the world. We want Bruno here.

“It is easy to understand [his importance]– not just because of the numbers but the way he plays and the importance he has during his five years here,” Amorim added.

“It’s normal a lot of clubs want a player like Bruno. He is a leader and he’s the captain, so he’s really important. He is a top player, we need top players.”

Fernandes has created 145 chances in all competitions this season, with no player in Europe’s top five leagues able to better that tally.

He has scored 19 goals and registered 16 assists. Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (56) has been directly involved in more goals for a Premier League side in all competitions this season.

Fernandes has scored 27 goals in the Europa League across his career, with only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (34) and Radamel Falcao (30).

Despite their woeful Premier League form, United are rated as favourites to win the Europa League by the Opta supercomputer (51%).

“If you look at our team, we cannot say today what is going to happen,” said Amorim, who is looking to become the first manager to reach a major European final in his first season in charge of an English club since Thomas Tuchel with Chelsea in the 2020-21 Champions League.

“There are some teams in any league that can understand the game is going to be like this and could change a little bit.

“We have to face the game as one more game. I feel we have to score to go to the next round. That is how we are going to approach the game. We will have to suffer a little bit to go to the final, and we are ready to suffer.”

United are unbeaten in their 13 Europa League games this season (W8 D5), and could become only the seventh side to reach the competition’s final without losing a match en route, after Benfica (2013-14), Chelsea (2018-19), Inter (2019-20), Villarreal (2020-21), Eintracht Frankfurt (2021-22) and Bayer Leverkusen (2023-24).

Amorim, though, reiterated that even European success, and qualification to the Champions League, would not make up for United’s woeful league campaign.

“For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results. That is my idea. At the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title,” he said.

“We know that this season is disappointing. Nothing is going to change, in that moment, I have to think a bit more but I felt that. I still feel that this season was the worst in the last 50 years.”

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