Since the Bruno Fernandes saga was restarted this month, there have been two times of the day when updates come from Portugal. First in the morning, with local newspapers covering the story; and also in the evening, with TVI24 show Mais Transferências coming up with more news.
Journalist Rui Pedro Braz has been bringing daily updates on the situation, and at the end of the show today he said he’s received some last minute information on the negotiations.
It’s now claimed there’s a problem with the transfer. That’s because Sporting are demanding at least €65m guaranteed, plus bonuses, and Manchester United won’t offer over €50m as the flat fee.
The Red Devils are said to be putting on the table a big amount in bonuses, which could make the deal reach up to €70m or €80m. However, they’re too hard to achieve.
The clubs are said to be negotiating for only money now, given the players who’ve been mentioned in the talks are not willing to join Sporting.
So there’s this €15m difference holding the deal up.
Although this isn’t a word used by the pundits, TVI24’s website writes that the transfer is now ‘at risk’.
The figures here go against much of the reporting in Portugal and England, so it will be interesting what take the Portuguese newspapers have on Friday.
It’s interesting to note that in September, after Tottenham’s failed attempt to sign the player, Sporting president Frederico Varandas said: “The only serious proposal, which was still only verbal, was a €45m bid from Tottenham for Bruno Fernandes, plus €20m in goals.
“Twenty million in goals which were about Tottenham becoming the Premier League winners, which they never were, and winning the Champions League, which has also never happened. So I found these goals extremely imposs…. difficult to accomplish. And I understood not to sell Bruno Fernandes.”
Manchester United should really be aware of that.
