£100m transfer proposal exposed a problem Manchester United can't ignore

Bruno Fernandes will be due back at Carrington for pre-season training next week. It did not always look like it was going to be the case for the Manchester United captain.

The club's post-season tour of Asia was dominated by speculation of the player's future after he rejected a lucrative move to Al-Hilal. Fernandes was offered the chance to triple his wages in Saudi Arabia, in a deal that would have earned him roughly £200 million over three years. It was understood that Al-Hilal were also prepared to offer United a £100 million transfer fee, though the club was always reluctant to sell their best player.

The 30-year-old instead chose to remain at Old Trafford, determined as ever to bring glory back to Old Trafford. The signing of Matheus Cunha and the proposed arrival of Bryan Mbeumo will bring fierce competition for places, though Fernandes remains as important as ever, as one of the few leaders in the United squad.

United lack leadership

When it looked like Bruno Fernandes could leave Manchester United, speculation quickly turned to who might be able to replace him as the club's next captain. It was difficult to find anyone who married the exceptional individual talent with the leadership qualities he has brought to the role.

We determined Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot and Lisandro Martinez were the most likely candidates to replace him, while Casemiro would be the most experienced choice and Kobbie Mainoo the wildcard pick. There are question marks over almost all of them ahead of the new season.

With Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen both gone and Jonny Evans now in a staff role, United have already lost plenty of experience from their dressing room this summer, and it could have been catastrophic had Fernandes left as well. Though some will argue it would have been the ultimate platform for others to step up and be counted, it would also have been a tough ask to replace Fernandes as a personality as well as a player.

Though he can sometimes let his emotions get the better of him and come across as a petulant persona, there is no denying Fernandes cares deeply about the football club, and that very same emotion is what channels the best footballing ability from him. He is the club's most influential captain since Roy Keane, and his impact is even more so off the pitch, where he is a dressing room leader and an outspoken figure, willing to question the club hierarchy. He famously offered to pay staff travel and accommodation so that they could attend the FA Cup final last year, while he and Tom Heaton paid for extra tickets for the Women's FA Cup final using the dressing room fine money.

When it comes to being a captain, it is not as simple as giving someone the armband; you must also act like a leader. With at least another season of Fernandes, there is further opportunity for others to learn from his example and put themselves in a better position to try and replace him when he eventually calls time on his Old Trafford career.

Wearing the armband won’t be enough.

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