Bruno Fernandes signs new Manchester United contract: Portugal playmaker vows to bring success to Old Trafford

Fernandes' new deal will make him one of the highest earners at Old Trafford

Bruno Fernandes has vowed to bring Manchester United supporters "the success they deserve" after agreeing a new contract at Old Trafford that will keep him at the club until 2026.

Fernandes' new deal propels him into the highest echelon of earners at United, a rich reward for the 49 goals and 39 assists he has contributed since joining from Sporting in January 2020. His club will have an option to extend Fernandes' contract by a further 12 months should he continue his success so far at Old Trafford, by which time he would be approaching his 33rd birthday.

Even in a relatively down year for United where he has often struggled to dovetail with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernandes has weighed in with nine goals and 14 assists. However that has not been enough to end his wait for club silverware since making the move to Manchester.

"From the moment that I joined Manchester United, I have had a special relationship with the club and our amazing fans," said Fernandes. "I grew up watching this team, dreaming of getting the chance to play here one day. That dream is now a reality and an honor.

"Even after two years, it still feels amazing to step out at Old Trafford, to hear the fans sing my song and to score in front of the Stretford End. It is a true privilege to wear this shirt and to fight for our incredible club.

"There is so much more that I want to achieve here, and I know that is the same for the rest of the squad and staff. More than anything, we want to give the fans the success that they deserve. We have shared some great moments over the last years, but the best is yet to come from myself and this team."

Fernandes' optimistic assessment jars with what has been an extremely turbulent campaign for United, who sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November, replacing him with Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis until the end of the season. The Red Devils have at best an outside chance of claiming the top four spot that would have been considered the bare minimum expected of them after a summer in which they signed Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho. Their last hope of silverware ended in March when Atletico Madrid sent them crashing out of the Champions League in the first knockout round.

United are currently interviewing candidates to succeed Rangnick for next season and spoke with Ajax manager Erik ten Hag last month, a coach that CBS Sports initially revealed in November was high on their list. The Dutchman and Paris Saint-Germain's Mauricio Pochettino are the two leading candidates on what is said to be a shortlist of four that includes Sevilla's Julen Lopetegui and Spain boss Luis Enrique.