Bruno’s Future: Numbers, Fit and the Bigger Picture
Bruno’s output and availability are hard to knock, but the wider team still has not consistently clicked around him. With contract decisions looming, the next steps may come down to him.
I have mostly straddled the fence on this, but I have leaned more towards selling Bruno in the summer for a few different reasons. Truth is, it feels like one of those situations where it is less about what fans want and more about what the player decides he wants next.
Ultimately it will be up to Bruno himself. If he wants to stay and see out the final year of his contract, then that is what he will do. If he wants to go, and there is a route out that suits him, then it becomes a very different conversation for the club.
Contract choices and the player’s control
The way I see it, there are two clear paths. One is that he stays, sees out the last year, and reassesses. The other is that the club act now and either sell or offer him an extension if he wants to commit longer-term.
There is talk of a release clause, and I can easily imagine multiple clubs being willing to trigger something like that if it exists. If he fancies Madrid, Bayern, PSG or even Saudi, then he will agree a deal if the option is there. That is why I am surprised there has been no real noise yet about the club offering a new deal.
Brilliant personal output, inconsistent team return
On a personal level, his stats have been phenomenal, particularly availability, minutes played, plus the goals and assists. You cannot really question his effort or his engine either. Whatever else you say about him, he puts himself forward every week.
But the team’s stats over the same period have not been as impressive or consistent. We have spent the best part of a billion euro since we signed him, and it still feels like the side has never properly gelled around his undoubted brilliance.
In all his time with us, no centre-forward ahead of him has succeeded consistently. No winger outside of him has performed consistently either, with Rashford having a couple of hot seasons to be fair. And no central midfielder behind him has really nailed it on a consistent basis. That is not all on Bruno, but it is part of the wider picture.
Would a different role suit him elsewhere?
I am not sure why it has not clicked as a team, and there are a multitude of reasons. If he went to Madrid, for example, he might play a different role and fit in perfectly, maybe in the Modric mould. His personal numbers might drop, but the team might benefit more.
I would like to see him in a great team competing right at the top. Can he bring us back there over the next two or three years? I am not sure. Does he even want to? Again, I am not sure.
One thing I do know is that, no matter where his head is at, he will give every last bit of energy he has to help secure a Champions League spot. And in a team game, personal stats are vanity and medals are sanity. I have no doubt he would swap personal accolades for team medals, because his ability deserves more chances of winning the biggest trophies.
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