Man United’s Bruno Fernandes issues response to Barcelona links

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has taken to social media on Saturday evening, to issue a defiant response to speculation linking him with a move to Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

Barca links

For those not aware, surprise reports over the day to date have seen Portuguese international Fernandes tipped for an Old Trafford exit.

The midfielder, in the midst of something of a lull in production by his own high standards, was even dropped to the bench by boss Ralf Rangnick for United’s Premier League meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this week.

In turn, word began to surface in the Spanish media early this morning that Fernandes could make his way to another of European football’s heavyweights come the end of the campaign.

The outfit in question? The aforementioned Barcelona.

As per a report from Diario Sport, the Blaugrana have, altogether understandably, identified Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland as their number 1 transfer target this summer.

However, in the case that an agreement for the Norwegian cannot be found, it has been suggested that the board at the Camp Nou view Fernandes as the ideal ‘Plan B’ marquee signing.

#Mercato 💰

🚨 EL BARÇA YA TIENE PLAN B POR SI NO LLEGA HAALAND

👉 El club azulgrana estaría dispuesto a hacer un esfuerzo económico por lograr el traspaso de Bruno Fernandes si finalmente no llega Erling Haaland#EnDirecto ▶️ https://t.co/fpmcoCKU6c pic.twitter.com/kYQTFoomi3

— Diario SPORT (@sport) January 8, 2022

‘Bad journalism?’

Doubts, for obvious reasons, have already been cast when it comes to the validity of Sport’s report, with the transfer chiefs at Old Trafford highly unlikely to sanction an exit for such a key member of the club’s squad.

And, if his latest social media activity is anything to go by, then, evidently, Fernandes himself is also sceptical when it comes to the possibility of a Camp Nou switch.

Taking to Instagram late this evening, the Portuguese international posted an altogether defiant message, in direct response to the speculation linking him with Xavi’s Barca project.

Bruno’s message, roughly, translated as:

“I thought we had changed the year a few days ago and we are already on April 1st. Or is this once again just bad journalism?”

Bruno Fernandes responds to a report linking him to Barcelona: “And I thought we had changed the year a few days ago and after all we are already on April 1st 😂 Or is it once again just bad journalism?”

via @Icarus07_ pic.twitter.com/0pYf0oGih6

— utdreport (@utdreport) January 8, 2022

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Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Manchester City	21	40	53
2	Chelsea FC	21	29	43
3	Liverpool FC	20	34	42
4	Arsenal FC	20	8	35
5	West Ham United	20	10	34
6	Tottenham Hotspur	18	3	33
7	Manchester United	19	3	31
8	Wolverhampton Wanderers	19	0	28
9	Brighton & Hove Albion	19	0	27
10	Leicester City	18	-2	25
11	Crystal Palace	20	-1	23
12	Brentford FC	19	-3	23
13	Aston Villa	19	-5	22
14	Southampton FC	19	-9	21
15	Everton FC	18	-9	19
16	Leeds United	19	-16	19
17	Watford FC	18	-14	13
18	Burnley FC	17	-11	11
19	Newcastle United	19	-23	11
20	Norwich City	19	-34	10

Player	Team	Goals
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	16
Jota, Diogo	Liverpool FC	10
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City	9
Dennis, Emmanuel	Watford FC	8
Antonio, Michail	West Ham United	8
Ronaldo, Cristiano	Manchester United	8
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur	8
Smith-Rowe, Emile	Arsenal FC	8
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	8
Raphinha	Leeds United	8
Mount, Mason	Chelsea FC	7
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City	7
Maupay, Neal	Brighton & Hove Albion	7
Silva, Bernardo	Manchester City	7
Mahrez, Riyad	Manchester City	6
Saka, Bukayo	Arsenal FC	6
Gallagher, Conor	Crystal Palace	6
Jorginho	Chelsea FC	6
Wilson, Callum	Newcastle United	6
Cornet, Maxwel	Burnley FC	6

Player	Team	Red Cards	Yellow Cards
Salisu, Mohammed	Southampton FC	0	6
Dennis, Emmanuel	Watford FC	0	6
Tarkowski, James	Burnley FC	0	6
Laporte, Aymeric	Manchester City	1	5
Neves, Ruben	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	6
Bissouma, Yves	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	6
Skipp, Oliver	Tottenham Hotspur	0	6
James, Reece	Chelsea FC	1	4
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United	0	5
Silva, Bernardo	Manchester City	0	5
Pogba, Paul	Manchester United	1	4
Cancelo, Joao	Manchester City	0	5
Robertson, Andy	Liverpool FC	1	4
McGinn, John	Aston Villa	0	5
Canos, Sergi	Brentford FC	0	5
Rice, Declan	West Ham United	0	5
Richarlison	Everton FC	0	5
Rodri	Manchester City	0	5
Ritchie, Matt	Newcastle United	0	5
Westwood, Ashley	Burnley FC	0	5

Player	Team	Assists
Alexander-Arnold, Trent	Liverpool FC	9
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	8
Bowen, Jarrod	West Ham United	7
Jesus, Gabriel	Manchester City	7
Pogba, Paul	Manchester United	7
Dennis, Emmanuel	Watford FC	5
Mount, Mason	Chelsea FC	5
James, Reece	Chelsea FC	5
Kovacic, Mateo	Chelsea FC	5
Cancelo, Joao	Manchester City	5
Robertson, Andy	Liverpool FC	5
Antonio, Michail	West Ham United	4
Mahrez, Riyad	Manchester City	4
Saka, Bukayo	Arsenal FC	4
Benrahma, Said	West Ham United	4
Doucoure, Abdoulaye	Everton FC	4
Rice, Declan	West Ham United	4
Redmond, Nathan	Southampton FC	4
Ronaldo, Cristiano	Manchester United	3
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur	3