Bruno Fernandes appears to regret new Man Utd contract after transfer admission

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has risked angering supporters with his recent comments while on international duty with Portugal. The 30-year-old has suggested that he is happier when he's representing his country than his club amid a dismal start to the 2024/25 season.

Fernandes hasn't achieved his expected performance levels in the early stages of the campaign, failing to score a single goal in United's opening 11 games.

He has registered four assists but has been far from his best after committing his future to Old Trafford until 2027 in the summer.

Upon penning new terms, Fernandes revealed that he had concrete offers to join other clubs but retained faith in the project laid out by INEOS.

"I was approached [by other clubs], the club was aware that there was a possibility of me leaving, I had concrete offers," Fernandes told ESPN.

"But the club showed that it needed me, that it was at a time of change and that they wanted to do things differently."

However, it's been more of the same. The Portuguese maestro's struggles have contributed to United's slow start, winning just two of seven Premier League games and three in 11 in all competitions.

The Red Devils are slumped in 14th, having scored just five goals and accumulated eight points out of a possible 21 - both record lows.

And Fernandes, despite wearing the United armband, has startlingly admitted his relief with momentarily leaving Manchester to link up with his international team-mates.

He said: "It's not a positive moment. We're not winning games, and the national team space is completely different.

"I've felt very at ease. The dynamics are very good. I'm in my country, I speak my language, and I have better food. I have demonstrated a good level in the national team.

"It's a space where I feel good and I feel like I can enjoy my football at a very high level, due to the dynamics we have and the quality I have at my side."

However, Fernandes has insisted he is determined to improve once he returns to M16 next week, accepting he's fallen short in recent months.

Fernandes added: "It's about improving as soon as I get there [Manchester]. Making the goals appear again because I'm a midfielder who scores a lot of goals and has, over the years, always shown a very high level of goals.

"I have to live up to those expectations and to my standards. What I've been doing is not at all what I want for this season because I haven't scored at the club yet.

"I hope that once I get there, I can score and help my club get back to winning ways and be at a good level."