Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is keen to keep skipper Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford, despite rumoured interest from Real Madrid. Since his transfer from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, Fernandes has been instrumental for the Red Devils.

The Portuguese midfielder has contributed to 177 goals in 277 appearances across all competitions for United, including 12 goals and nine assists in 27 games under Amorim's management. However, Real Madrid are showing interest in the 30-year-old.

The report suggests that scouts have been sent to 'virtually every United match recently' to observe Fernandes, who is seen as a potential replacement for Luka Modric,

Despite Amorim's desire to retain Fernandes, it is suggested that due to United's financial situation, they would 'consider a big offer'. "When we need it, he's always there," Amorim praised Fernandes after his hat-trick helped United eliminate Real Sociedad from the Europa League earlier this month.

"In the set-pieces, he can change position, he can bring the ball forward, he can score goals, he can make transitions, like he showed today in the last 10 minutes of the game. He can defend so it's a perfect captain for our team, and we need to help him to win titles, because he deserves a lot."

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a candid admission about the current squad, acknowledging that some players are "not good enough" and "overpaid". Speaking to the BBC, Ratcliffe said: "If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn't buy, we're buying Antony, we're buying Casemiro, we're buying Onana, we're buying Hojlund, we're buying Sancho.

"These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we've inherited those things and have to sort that out. For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we're paying £17m to buy him in the summer.

"Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid. But for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time. We've got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.

"There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer. We definitely need Bruno, he's a fantastic footballer."

Bruno Fernandes himself has recently opened up about his new contract with United, signed in August, revealing that despite having offers to leave, he chose to stay because the club "showed that it needed me".

"The club was aware that there was a possibility of me leaving, I had concrete offers," Fernandes disclosed. "But the club showed that it needed me, that it was at a time of change and that they wanted to do things differently.

"I believe there is a dream future at this club with the changes that are taking place. That's why I chose to stay. There were other directions that would have been interesting for me, other expectations. But I feel good here, I feel loved and I feel that the club has been very respectful of me."