Ruben Amorim today described Bruno Fernandes as “clearly one of the best players in the world” and said he wants him to remain at Manchester United.
Fernandes has this week been linked with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal with the Pro League side able to offer the Portugal midfielder astronomical wages to leave Old Trafford for the Middle East.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s Europa League clash with Athletic Bilbao, Amorim made clear he wants his captain to stay and be a key part of a squad overhaul.
“It’s easy to understand [his importance] not just because of the numbers but the way he plays and the things he has done in his five years here,” he said of Fernandes, who has scored 19 goals and added 16 assists in 52 appearances this season.
“He is a top player and we need top players. He is a leader. He is the captain. So he is really important.
“It’s normal that there are a lot of clubs who want a player like Bruno, but we want to keep our best players. And Bruno is clearly one of the top players in the world.
“So our idea does not change. We clearly want Bruno here.”
The importance of this fixture can’t be stressed enough ❤️🔥#MUFC || #UEL pic.twitter.com/iatC73VWc1
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 6, 2025
Anything is possible tomorrow night – Amorim
United head into the second leg of their semi-final against the Basque side with a 3-0 advantage from the first game at San Mames.
Athletic went in as slight favourites but saw their gameplan ripped apart when defender Dani Vivian was sent off after 35 minutes for a foul on Rasmus Hojlund that led to a penalty which Fernandes scored.
And Amorim was quick to highlight how quickly things can change, and stressed the need for his players to be fully focused on the task in hand.
“If you look at our season, anything is possible. We have to understand that,” he added.
“One goal can change everything – the momentum of the game. One sending off can. You saw it one week ago. We are prepared to fight to win the game and not think about the result.
“Of course, that matters in the way we are going to do the things, but we are only thinking about winning the game tomorrow.”
Amorim wary of United’s inconsistency
The only consistent thing about United this season has been their inconsistency.
“If you look at our team, you cannot say what is going to happen today,” added Amorim.
“There are some teams in any league that can understand that a game is going to be like this and they can control the narrative. We cannot do that. So we need to face the game as one more game.
“I think we need to score to go to the next round. That is clearly how we are going to face the game.
“We will also have to suffer a little bit to go to the final and be better in the small details.”
Athletic absences don’t make it easier
Athletic will be without Nico and Inaki Williams and top-scorer Orhan Sancet through injury, as well as Vivian due to suspension, but Amorim says his team still has to be wary.
He said: ”For us, it doesn’t matter. For us, it is the top team of Athletic Bilbao. I understand it is hard to play without key players. But for us, it doesn’t matter.
“We need to go to the game – it’s a final for us. So we need to go and try to win the game.”
United will be without central defender Matthijs de Ligt after he sustained an injury at Brentford at the weekend.
