Man United latest: Bruno Fernandes' future 'decided' as captain told he's 'finished'

Bruno Fernandes was benched for Sunday's loss to Bournemouth after publicly criticising manager Carrick, but the pair have now agreed to reconcile ahead of Chelsea.

Tensions between Manchester United manager Michael Carrick and captain Bruno Fernandes have escalated following United's poor run of form. Fernandes was dropped to the bench for Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth after publicly criticising Carrick's approach in the wake of a 4-1 loss to Como. The midfielder had previously played every minute of United's Premier League season, making his absence particularly striking.

Former United midfielder Paul Scholes described Fernandes' public comments as "unforgivable" and questioned whether any manager could trust him again, suggesting he should leave European football for the Saudi Pro League.

However, The Athletic reports that Carrick, Fernandes and senior club figures have agreed to put their differences behind them, potentially opening the door for the midfielder to return against Chelsea this weekend. Carrick himself narrowly avoided losing his job after a high-level conference call on Monday with co-owners and executives to discuss his future. He was given a reprieve on Tuesday, but his position remains precarious with United just one point clear of the relegation zone.