Real Madrid had interest in Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes this summer, but a deal could happen in 2020 based on a recent development.
Bruno Fernandes was a strong candidate to switch teams in the summer of 2019 as one of the most promising midfielders in Europe. Manchester United were the most linked team, but recent rumors suggested that Real Madrid could sign the 24-year-old.
In fact, Fiorentina football director Daniele Prade even stated that Fernandes would be going to Madrid for 70 million euros.
That, of course, did not happen before the deadline. And now 90min.com is reporting that Fernandes has penned a new deal with the Portuguese club.
However, this new deal comes with the assurance that Fernandes will be granted the opportunity to leave for a bigger club in 2020.
This is similar to Timo Werner’s situation with RB Leipzig. Werner has signed a deal that includes a raise to remain at Leipzig ahead of strong transfer rumors linking him to the likes of Bayern Munich and Liverpool, and he’ll be able to leave in 2020 if a team meets his release clause. Whereas before this deal, Werner could have been signed by Bayern for free.
Fernandes would command top dollar, but likely somewhere less than 70 million euros, on the transfer market. As far as the landscape looks right now, Real and United would be the two favorites to sign Fernandes, and if Real are interested in him, there’s no reason they should lose out on his services. United don’t look like a Champions League-quality team yet, so Real would have a clear advantage in that sense.
Last season, Fernandes recorded 20 goals and 13 assists in a sensational 2018-2019 league campaign at Sporting, and he’s already off to an insane start in 2019-2020 with two goals and four assists in four league appearances.
The potential Fernandes has is scary, and Real should be looking for another midfielder next year, even with the equally gifted Dani Ceballos set to return from loan at Arsenal. Real could use another young, dynamic midfield player in their “Revolution”, and it would make far more sense to allocate those funds next year.
That is, of course, if they don’t end up signing Paul Pogba first. Then it would make all the sense in the world for United to sign Fernandes, even if he doesn’t quite provide what Pogba would as an all-around midfielder.
Even though Real should like their chances this season, it’s never too early to look at the 2020 summer transfer window with names like Fernandes available.