Bruno Fernandes has been urged not to quit Manchester United by his devastated teammates.
The United skipper cut a crestfallen figure on Wednesday night after his side spurned their last chance to salvage something from a miserable season.
After shattering a number of unwanted records in the Premier League, defeat against Tottenham in the Europa League final means Ruben Amorim’s side will go without European football next season.
The repercussions of a fourth consecutive defeat against Spurs are likely to be damaging and far reaching.
On Friday it was reported that another round of redundancies would be affecting club staff would be made as Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues his extreme cost-cutting measures.
United, meanwhile, are said to be willing to listen to offers for virtually every member of their first team squad, including skipper Bruno Fernandes.
The captain produced a woefully sub-par performance in Bilbao in midweek and almost appeared resigned to his departure in a downbeat post match interview.
Will Bruno Fernandes leave Man Utd?
‘I’ve always said I will be here until the club says to me that it’s time to go. I’m eager to do more, to be able to bring the club to great days,’ he said.
‘In 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.
‘But I’ve always said it and I keep my word in the same way. If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cash in or whatever, it’s what it is, and football sometimes is like this.’
Al-Hilal are preparing to test United’s resolve with a £100million offer for the Portugal international and are willing to pay the 30-year-old a whopping £700,000-a-week salary.
What Man Utd stars have told Bruno Fernandes
United chiefs are yet to make a definitive decision on Fernandes’ future but his teammates are in no doubt of the importance he can still play in Amorim’s rebuilding project.
A source told The Sun: ‘Bruno may be criticised but the players know what a talent he is.
‘He can be demanding but they all respect him and sent him messages letting him know how valued he is.
‘If he leaves, the dressing room would fall apart.’
Amorim, meanwhile, plans to apologise to fans after a dismal season comes to close against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.
‘We will do that, it’s tradition and we have to face it,’ Amorim said of the usual lap of honour.
‘I think it will be the biggest mistake if we don’t do that. We will do that.’
Asked what he might say to fans, Amorim added: ‘An apology I think is clear; an explanation, you don’t have time.
‘So we will try to be honest. I think I will be honest with the fans and I will say what is in my mind and what is in my heart.’
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