Manchester United

Alex Turk
Fan writer

We asked our Manchester United fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.

Bruno Fernandes

Fernandes is understandably the favourite to retain his Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year trophy at the club and David de Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo on a record four wins. He has been a level above again, and deserves better than Manchester United's current depths.

Amad Diallo

If not for an unfortunate ankle injury that sidelined him for three months, Amad would dominate the player of the season ballots. The exciting Ivorian has exploded this term and committed his future to United until 2030 in January.

Noussair Mazraoui

Mazraoui arrived as an add-on in the Matthijs de Ligt deal last summer, which has proven to be a £17m masterstroke. The Moroccan has shown commendable consistency at full-back, centre-back, wing-back and even in attacking midfield, and he undoubtedly has a role to play in Ruben Amorim's mammoth rebuild.

Harry Maguire

Not only has Maguire continued his renaissance at the heart of Amorim's back three, but he has also contributed multiple clutch goals. Among them were Porto (90+1), Leicester City (90+3), and, of course, Lyon (120+1) - one of the most memorable in Old Trafford's iconic history.

Pick your 2024-25 United player of the season from our shortlist here

And tell us why you're picking who you are, or why you'd have gone for another player not on the list, here

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

Alex Turk
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

As Manchester United ers pick themselves up after a damning night in Bilbao, I would like to offer the glimmer of optimism this fanbase desperately needs.

There is no excusing United's season. It is embarrassing. The players, coaches and board are all culpable and are receiving the scrutiny they deserve.

It is going to sting for a while. But once the doom and gloom subsides, I believe we will realise the result is not as disastrous in the long run as it currently feels.

Ruben Amorim needs as much time on the training pitch as possible if he is going to adapt the hideous squad he inherited into a team capable of regularly winning football matches.

With just one game a week next season, he will have more time to work on his system and develop his players with drills and video analysis.

United will have more opportunities to improve attacking and defending set-pieces, and team-mates can enhance their understanding of each other's habits to build patterns.

Fewer games should also result in fewer injuries - an issue that hampered Erik ten Hag last season and has made Amorim's job harder this term.

He can also strengthen relationships - personally and professionally - with players, including newcomers he will recruit using funds from offloading those who cannot meet his demands.

No European football will allow United to trim the squad aggressively. They can axe stars without having to replace them.

And the financial blow of missing out on Champions League football is slightly offset by the fact salaries will not increase by 25 per cent for competing in Europe's premier cup competition.

United, naturally, have to be in there. No European football at all is painful. But if it is for one year only, the club must use it as an opportunity that should not come around again.

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

An emergency The Devils' Advocate podcast has landed.

BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater hosts following the Europa League final defeat in Bilbao.

He is ed by fellow colleague Joe McGrath, live from the airport in Spain, who says fans are "tired and trying to get their heads around what they saw".

This podcast does come with a full disclosure warning from Drinkwater though:

"This is going to be one of the moodiest listens you have ever had."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Presseye

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, who is likely to make his final appearance for the Old Trafford club against Aston Villa on Sunday, possesses the attributes to become a manager in the future, according to David Healy, his former Northern Ireland international team-mate.

Evans has enjoyed a distinguished career which has seen him have two spells with the Red Devils, play for West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City, and rack up 107 caps for his country.

The 37-year-old made 131 appearances for Manchester United between 2006 and 2015 and re-ed the Premier League giants eight years later when Erik ten Hag was manager.

Evans' medal tally with United makes impressive reading - he has won the Premier League three times, the FA Cup, the League Cup twice, the Champions League and the Club World Cup with the Premier League giants.

"Jonny has the persona of a manager, nothing fazes him and he has that calmness and experience," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"I've no doubt he would be afforded the utmost respect from the players he would coach and manage in any dressing room he walked into, if that's what he chooses to do."

Healy, who began his career with Manchester United, described Evans as "a great servant" to the Old Trafford club.

"I was hugely disappointed, and I know Jonny was too, and although he probably wouldn't say it, a wee bit hurt, the way he left United [in 2015], because he came through the ranks.

"He represented Man Utd with great pride and great dignity and with great success under Sir Alex Ferguson.

"So to get the opportunity to return when he did, people were probably sort of thinking, 'that's a strange one', but when I saw it I wasn't shocked."

Evans initially started his second spell at United in July 2023 on a short-term basis but subsequently signed a one-year contract in September.

"I still knew how highly thought of Jonny was at United previously and it didn't take long for the manager [ten Hag] to realise, even initially for a short period," reflected Healy.

"Jonny's personality, his quality, his experience, won people over when he went in."

Healy believes that Evans ranks among the best players to have turned out for Northern Ireland.

"People talk about different eras, different people, I can only go on what I've seen over the last 20 or 30 years.

"We've had exceptional centre-halves, but Jonny is certainly up there - his medal haul is through the roof, his appearance record."

Manchester United have prioritised the sale of England forwards Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, as well as Brazil winger Antony, as part of their squad overhaul. (Manchester Evening News), external

Despite missing out on Champions League football, Manchester United will turn down any approaches for captain Bruno Fernandes, with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal eager to sign the 30-year-old midfielder before the Club World Cup. (GiveMeSport), external

United are also set to sell 25-year-old Netherlands defender Tyrell Malacia, who won the Eredivisie title on loan at PSV Eindhoven this season. (Manchester Evening News), external

Ruben Amorim has a summer transfer budget of just less than £100m and retains Manchester United's firm backing, despite Wednesday's Europa League final defeat. (Guardian), external

Ipswich Town's 22-year-old striker Liam Delap has held talks with both Manchester United and Chelsea over a potential summer move. (Fabrizio Romano via CaughtOffside), external

Viktor Gyokeres' uncle says the 26-year-old striker made a decision, during a family dinner, to snub United and Arsenal this summer to stay at Sporting. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We asked for your thoughts on whether Manchester United should contemplate selling Bruno Fernandes to facilitate a rebuild.

This followed the Red Devils captain's comments offering to leave the club if needed after Wednesday's Europa League final defeat.

Here are some of your comments favouring him remaining at the club:

Bazzer: How can we sell our best player by a country mile and justify it? We should be keeping him, letting Ruben Amorim build a new team around him, and also a club ethic like he did at Sporting which took about four to five years. It's time we stood firm again, clear out the rot, heal and recover then regain our focus, roll the sleeves up and get stuck in.

Diane: Absolutely Fernandes is not for sale! He's the heart of the team and shows his ion for the club every game.

Andrew: Absolutely not, no, never. He is the only player in the full squad who looks like a Man Utd player.

Derek: To progress, we have to keep Bruno as well as Amorim. To be fair, the manager wanted to come this summer and we have to allow him time to sort out what players he wants and more importantly who wants to play for United and not themselves. As for Bruno, yes he can moan a bit but his statistics for the season speak for themselves. One hundred and 10 per cent work rate, leading scorer etc. We have to keep them for sure.

David: Take Bruno out of that team and relegation will surely follow. He has been the only light during these past few years. He doesn't just carry from a physical aspect but the mental side as well. He has been trying to carry an inadequate team for too long but we still need him to stay.

Darren: Absolutely not! There are other under-performing players that should go first. Fernandes needs to be the foundation from which to build.

Jacko: A ridiculous suggestion irrespective of the club's current financial situation. Bruno is the heartbeat of the team. His spirit and technical ability are unquestionable. As the manager said, I wish we had more Brunos.

Mark: Bruno is our best player. Selling him to finance a gamble on a new player makes no sense.

Image source, Getty Images

Here are some of your comments favouring him leaving the club:

Luke: I think it's time he moves on - we have had the weakest midfield for far too long. I think the best thing to happen to us was losing the final to Tottenham. Ruben Amorim can now rebuild a new team with more muscle and dynamism in the middle of the pack, because we are usually out-muscled, out-thought, and losing 50/50 duels with very poor es.

Ed: He is our best player, by a country mile. And yet I'd sell him. A massive contradiction I know. He's been one of our worst captains and I'm not sure how you navigate a demotion of the captaincy without unsettling him. He's 30 years old, and if we can get £50 million or more for him, then it would be good financially to reinvest in younger players. Matheus Cunha at 25 could be a refreshing replacement.

Justin: Absolutely United should cash in if the chance is available. Fantastic footballer but over 30 now. Also, not demanding enough as a captain.

Adam: I think Bruno deserves to leave if he wants to. He deserves trophies. He has given everything to the club and we don't deserve him right now. If he stays, it will be amazing for us, if he wishes to go then I personally wish him all the best and I hope he succeeds.

Peter: I don't care if Bruno tops all the stats tables. As a captain he's awful, and he's not that great a player. He misplaces easy es, loses the ball in dangerous positions, is not a leader and I think United would be a better team without him. He did nothing in the final. His ing was very sloppy and he's not the type of player who's going to drag his team-mates through matches.

Mick: Yes, sell him. His petulance and always trying the Hollywood ball is costing United. Sell him and use the money on a rebuild and get a striker who knows how to score.

After Manchester United's Europa League final defeat, Bruno Fernandes said he will leave if he is told he is no longer required or his sale is necessary to facilitate a rebuild under Ruben Amorim.

But how important has the Red Devils captain been this season?

Despite a historically poor Premier League campaign, Fernandes has topped the United squad for a number of key metrics, demonstrating how central he is to Amorim's side.

His quiet showing against Tottenham further exposed how reliant United are on their captain, especially with his seven Europa League goals putting him as t top scorer in the competition.

The 30-year-old revealed in March he turned down offers to leave Old Trafford last summer, while earlier in May Amorim stated he wants to keep his captain amid big-money interest from Saudi Arabia.

What do you think? How crucial is Fernandes at United?

And do you believe the time is right to offload him to finance the rebuild?

Let us know here

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is impossible to imagine what state Manchester United would be in now without Bruno Fernandes. Relegation might have been a real fear.

Ruben Amorim has also said he wants to keep his best players and Fernandes is one of them.

However, Amorim said the club had to be "brave" when it came to assessing future decisions.

Fernandes is at his peak. But United need to manipulate their finances to build something for the future. Thinking the unthinkable is part of the plan.

Fernandes' exit - given clear interest in him elsewhere - might have to be part of that.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has offered to leave the club if needed to facilitate a rebuild after Wednesday's Europa League final defeat.

Fernandes has been United's standout performer this season but could not impact the final in the manner he has in so many games since his arrival in Manchester in January 2020.

"I've always said I will be here until the club says to me that it's time to go," the Portugal international said post-match. "I'm eager to do more, to be able to bring the club to the great days.

"But I've always said it and I keep my word in the same way. On the day that the club thinks that I'm too much or it's time to part ways, football is like this, you never know it.

"If the club thinks it's time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it is what it is and football sometimes is like this."

This sentiment was echoed in compatriot Ruben Amorim's post-match comments last night, with the United boss saying that if the club no longer wanted him he would quit "without any conversation about compensation".

However, Fernandes has backed Amorim to succeed despite his poor start in England since also arriving from Sporting Lisbon, this time in late 2024.

"We [the players] just agreed that he's the right man," Fernandes added. "He has done a lot of good things. "We know that the manager is looked at by the results - obviously we see more than that as players.

"We know for everyone it will be about him bringing back the positivity in the club. To try to bring the club back to fight for the big trophies. And we all agree that he's the right man."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Wednesday's defeat - are you still disappointed or have you found any optimism after sleeping on it?

Here are some of your comments:

Dermot: Absolutely devastated by last night's result. We are so far behind Liverpool and Arsenal that we are in Narnia. The team just isn't good enough. We deserve to be where we are in the table and if the three relegated teams had been marginally better this season we would've been relegated and would have deserved to have been. I see no green shoots of recovery and we now face a long time in the wilderness. The club and in particular the players need to take a long hard look at themselves.

Steve: Sadly this sums up our season - no leadership on the pitch and even less off it. We'll hear about how sorry the players and manger are about the result. Grow up and put yourselves on the line. This would never have happened in Fergie's days. Nice to see my season ticket had to be renewed last week, I wonder how many would have pondered on renewal if the deadline was this Friday.

Roger: No distractions from the league next season, big reduction in number of games and no more Thursday nights and Sundays. Team can concentrate on Premier League. We can rebuild and come back stronger. Mainly with players who want to play for the badge than those who are there for their inflated salaries.

David: I feel United needed to lose this game. Their squad have shown consistently they are not good enough and the time to paper over cracks is gone. A clear out of at least 10 players is required with young hungry players and quality to be brought in. Money will be tight, but it might mean we are bringing players in who want to play for United, not the money. Keep Amorim, let him have a pre-season and build. With free weeks next season his coaching should show an identity. Watch this space!

Phil: I am feeling pretty deflated this morning. Last night's result was sobering. A team lacking in any quality across the park who never looked like scoring against an equally poor team. Our history gave me a false sense of hope that we were going to win but I should really know better by this stage. It's hard to see where we go from here without the much needed cash injection but it's clear that there will continue to be dark days ahead for us for the foreseeable. Tough being a Man Utd er at the moment.

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw believes boss Ruben Amorim is the right man to be in charge of the club, despite itting they are at "rock bottom".

The Europa League final loss to Tottenham means United will go without European football next season for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

Speaking after the game, Shaw said: "We're very sorry for what they [the fans] have had to go through this season. It's been nowhere near good enough and I have to apologise for that.

"We have to look at the positives and the only positive thing is we an only go up from here. We're rock bottom now.

"I can say 100% he's the right man. I know results have not been good enough at all, I've been here for a long time now and been through different managers.

"Ruben [Amorim], for me, I talk on my behalf and I'm sure I can talk on behalf of all the players. Ruben is 100% the right manager to take us back where this club should be."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has criticised manager Ruben Amorim's decision to limit his involvement in the Europa League final against Tottenham.

Garnacho came off the bench with just 19 minutes of normal time to go to replace Mason Mount, who started ahead of the Argentinian.

Speaking after the match, Garnacho said: "Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don't know.

"The final will influence [my decision] but the whole season, the situation of the club. I'm going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens afterwards."

His future at the club has further been thrown into doubt after his brother Robert's post on Instagram.

"Working as no-one else, helping every round, coming from two goals in the last two finals, just to be on the pitch for 19 mins and get thrown under the bus," wrote Roberto Garnacho.

Read more on the Garnacho story

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar believes his former club should stick with Ruben Amorim as manager.

The Red Devils legend, who won four Premier League titles and a Champions League with the club, said that he believes Man Utd should stick to a certain style of play if they want to be successful in the long run.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live following United's Europa League final defeat, Van der Sar said: "I think the game itself was not great, but if you win a final you can change the outcome of a season and that is what Tottenham did.

"I retired 14 years ago, in that time Manchester United have had so many coaches and managers. Some have been successful with trophies, but in the long run I think you need to stick with a manager and a certain style of play.

"I think at the moment the hierarchy is clear. You have the Glazers, the 25% ownership from Jim Ratcliffe.

"The football director has gone after four or five months. At a certain point you need to know what you want to get out of the club, what direction you want to go. So, I don't think it's beneficial to change manager again."