Pundit slams Pogba after Man United talks with Fernandes collapse
Alex McLeish has insisted Bruno Fernandes “100 per cent” deserves to be the top earners amid a contract standoff at Manchester United.
The former Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 27-year-old has delivered for the Red Devils when higher earners, such as Paul Pogba, have failed.
As reported by the Athletic on Monday (17 January), contract talks between Fernandes and Manchester United have been shelved.
The midfielder reportedly rejected an offer during the Autumn as he looks for parity with his higher-earning teammates.
His current deal runs until the summer of 2025, while United have the option of a one-year extension clause.
McLeish insisted Fernandes deserves to be in that bracket of earners at Old Trafford.
“Pogba hardly plays and he must be one of the richest earners in the world,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“If Fernandes is scoring the goals he did last year and when he first came in, of course he deserves (to earn the same).
“It’s only natural that you would want parity with the highest earners. Some of those earners are not even getting a regular game.
“If he scores the goals like he did last week and continues to do that, then yes, 100 per cent.”
The Athletic claim Fernandes currently has a base salary of £100,000-a-week – double what he was on at Sporting Lisbon.
However, the Athletic claim the likes of Paul Pogba, Jadon Sancho and Edinson Cavana are earning £200,000-a-week-plus.
Fernandes has scored seven goals and contributed nine assists in 26 appearances this season.
He has netted a total of 47 times in 106 games for the Red Devils.
In other news, Manchester United star tipped to pull U-turn over joining Premier League rivals this month.