Ian Wright claims £57m Man Utd star will regret not leaving in summer transfer window | Football

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.

‘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.

‘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.

‘Listen, we’re clear with the situation of the team and as a football club at the moment,’ Carrick said in Thursday’s pre-match press conference.

‘He’s an important player for this group. He has been and he will be.

‘Between us, we’ve got to make a difference and we’ve got to push things in a good direction.

‘He’s fully committed to this football club, he’s fully committed to making things better. It doesn’t change for me. He’s the one that’s kind of led the team so well for many a game and many a year, and he’ll continue to do that.’

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