Bruno eases United fears over new deal
BRUNO FERNANDES last night eased fears over his future at Manchester United after it emerged the Portugal star has shelved contract talks until the end of the season. United confirmed yesterday that discussions were on hold, although the club are relaxed over the situation given that Fernandes’ current deal runs until 2025 with an option to extend it by another year. Sources close to the player last night said it was only ‘a question of time’ before Fernandes agrees new terms with United. The playmaker, 27, is said to want parity with the club’s highest earners such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David de Gea and Paul Pogba to reflect his importance to the team. Fernandes is one of United’s lower-paid stars despite more than doubling his £50,000-a-week salary when he signed from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020. He has been one of the club’s best players since then, contributing 47 goals and 34 assists in 106 games. His form has dipped this season but he scored both of United’s goals in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa. Meanwhile, interim boss Ralf Rangnick is understood to have spoken to Anthony Martial after they clashed over the France striker’s absence at Villa Park. Rangnick claimed Martial — who is pushing for a move this month — said he didn’t want to be in the squad, but the 26-year-old hit back by insisting he would never refuse to play. Martial is said to feel let down by Rangnick’s comments. Fellow Frenchman Pogba has moved a step closer to returning from a thigh injury after he was pictured in training yesterday with team-mates including Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford, who both missed the Villa game through injury. United have confirmed plans for a warm-weather camp in Dubai during the winter break have been scrapped due to Covid concerns.