Should the unthinkable happen and Bruno Fernandes leaves Manchester United the Red Devils will reportedly have to share the profits with Boavista, the Portuguese club where it all began for the midfield magnifico.
Fernandes never played a senior match for the side from Porto but spent some eight years with them at youth level, where he made the switch from centre-back to attacking midfielder.
Boavista have just been relegated from the Liga Portugal after a bottom-place finish but could be in line for a huge cash boost from any sale of United’s captain.
According to Record, Boavista are entitled to 0.5% of whatever United receive for the player as a result of FIFA’s solidarity mechanism.
It may not sound like much but given the size of the potential fee, and Boavista’s financial struggles, it would be a huge bonus for the club.
Record reference the ongoing saga linking Fernandes to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal and note that should United receive €118m from the transfer Boavista would be entitled to around €600,000.
This could “help resolve some of the financial issues that have affected the club in recent years”, so there will be many at Estadio do Bessa hoping the deal does go through.
That’s in stark contrast to the attitude at Old Trafford, where Ruben Amorim will be desperate to believe his own words that Fernandes wants to stay, although higher up in the boardroom it is believed officials are open to parting ways with the player.
The 30-year-old was in phenomenal form for a dire United side which endured a historically bad campaign, scoring 19 goals and registering 20 assists in all competitions.
With probably one big transfer left in his career, the Portuguese could be forgiven for looking around a disjointed dressing room with no prospect of European football next season and giving serious thought to a move away.
Al-Hilal are desperate to get a deal over the line quickly and are reportedly growing impatient with Fernandes, who is yet to give them an answer to their impressive offer.
Meanwhile United have been urged to take the money and run, and are reportedly already sounding out potential replacements such as Pedro Goncalves should their talisman jump ship.
Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
