Scholes says Fernandes is 'finished' at United and should move to Saudi Arabia

Paul Scholes has written off Bruno Fernandes’ Manchester United future, declaring the club captain ‘finished’ at Old Trafford after his public attack on manager Michael Carrick and advising him to seek a move to the Saudi Pro League.

Fernandes was dropped to the bench for Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth — ending a run in which he had played every minute of United’s league season — after publicly criticising Carrick’s methods in the wake of a 4-1 home loss to Como earlier in the week.

Scholes, the former United midfielder, was unsparing in his verdict. “What Bruno Fernandes said last week, I think that’s unforgivable,” he said. “How can Bruno Fernandes be trusted to be captain of any team he ever goes to now? I think he probably needs to get away from European football and just go to Saudi, just get out the way. I don’t think any manager, any member of staff can trust him after that.”

The fallout adds another layer of crisis to an already desperate situation at Old Trafford. United have gone eight league games without a win, conceding seven goals across the back-to-back defeats to Como and Bournemouth, and now sit just one point above the Premier League relegation zone.

Carrick’s position has grown increasingly precarious, with his long-term future at the club now openly in doubt. The head coach faces a pivotal test when United travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

Despite the public rift, The Athletic has reported that Carrick, Fernandes and senior club figures have agreed to move past their differences, with the manager reportedly prepared to restore the Portugal international to the starting line-up this weekend. Whether that reconciliation holds — and whether it is enough to arrest United’s alarming slide — remains to be seen.