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Ian Wright says £57m star will regret not leaving Manchester United
Oct 30 2026 10:49 · By Ben Fleming · 7 Reads
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright (Picture: The Overlap)
Ian Wright is confident that Bruno Fernandes will regret not leaving Manchester United when he had the chance last summer.
Fernandes watched from the bench as United lost to Bournemouth last weekend after calling Michael Carrick’s tactics into question following a 4-1 defeat to Como.
The Red Devils captain is expected to return to the fold against Chelsea on Saturday, but has a cloud hanging over him following his public falling out with the manager.
Fernandes was United’s standout performer last season, managing 30 goal involvements in 35 games to help his side finish third after a poor start under Ruben Amorim.
The 32-year-old has a £57million release clause in his contract, but seemingly spurned interest from Saudi Arabia to remain at Old Trafford for his eighth season.
But after a dismal and chaotic start to the season, former Arsenal striker Wright believes that Fernandes may already be regretting that decision.
‘I backed him because of what he had achieved up to that point,’ Wright said on The Overlap with Sky Bet.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes (Picture: AFP)
‘He’s dragged that team, done a lot of work himself and is probably frustrated now.
‘He’s given his best years to United and there’s no way he won’t be thinking he should have left.
‘It’s not even a case of where [he could have gone], he will be thinking, “I could have done this, I could have done that”.
‘The fact is, I thought he would have changed his attitude and the way he is and he wouldn’t be poisonous in the dressing room.
Michael Carrick dropped Fernandes against Bournemouth (Picture: Getty)
‘But I genuinely believe he was the one loading the gun for Martinez and then the way that he came out afterwards and threw Michael under the bus, you see that he must be a nightmare in that dressing room.’
Despite his public comments, Fernandes will retain the club captaincy, with Carrick insisting the midfielder is ‘committed’ to United.