Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has reportedly rejected a second contract offer from the club.

The talks

According to reports on Friday, 13 November 2026, United first offered Fernandes a new deal in the summer, which he turned down, and talks between his representatives and the club have continued since then without agreement. His current contract expires at the end of the season.

His record

The Portugal international had an outstanding 2025/26 season, helping United finish third and return to the Champions League after two years away. He set a new Premier League record of 21 assists in a season, breaking the mark previously shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, and won both the FWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Player of the Year awards.

Background

The news adds to a difficult period at Old Trafford. The club sacked head coach Michael Carrick this week after one league win in 10 games left them in the relegation zone, and Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly agreed to take over.

Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick following a poor start to the Premier League season.

Why he was sacked

United have won only one of their first 10 league matches, against Ipswich Town in August, leaving them in the relegation zone. Their other wins this season came in the Champions League. According to reports on Thursday, 12 November 2026, club executives met co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco to finalise the decision. Carrick and his backroom staff are reportedly set to receive about £5 million in compensation.

Pochettino to take charge

Reports say the club lined up a replacement before ending Carrick's tenure, approaching US Soccer about releasing Mauricio Pochettino from his contract as head coach of the United States men's team. The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager is said to have agreed to take charge at Old Trafford. Releasing him from his US contract is reported to cost about £7 million.

Background

Carrick,, a former United midfielder, first stepped in after the dismissal of Ruben Amorim last season and did well enough to earn a permanent two-year contract in May, having guided the club into the Champions League. His first full season in charge has fallen well short of that early promise.

What happens next

United have not yet officially confirmed Pochettino's appointment.

The Flamingos, Nigeria's under-17 women's football team, have been welcomed at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after winning the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

The reception

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu received the players and officials on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, in what was described as a celebratory homecoming visit and the federal government's formal recognition of the team's achievement.

₦100 million each

During the visit, the First Lady announced that the President was giving each player a ₦100 million savings certificate. The money will be held in trust in designated bank accounts until each player turns 18, so the teenage champions will not have immediate access to it. The reward was extended to the coaching staff: the head coach will receive ₦100 million in cash and each member of the technical crew ₦50 million.

The win

The Flamingos beat Japan 2–1 in the final in Morocco on Saturday, 7 November, with goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku, becoming the first African side to win the tournament. After losing their opening game to Poland, they won five matches in a row, including victories over defending champions North Korea, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil. The win means Nigeria has now won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in both the men's and women's competitions.

Rewards

The Senate has also pledged ₦100 million to the team, and the players had earlier received $50,000 in cash. FIFA does not award prize money at this level, so rewards depend on governments and sponsors.

Dr. Mo has expressed admiration for former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, now the NDC presidential candidate, describing his travel schedule as one that is very hard to keep up with.

"Just visualise what I'm saying"

According to Dr. Mo, travelling with Obi means moving from one city to another, sometimes across continents, with little time to settle before the next journey.

"We move from Lagos to Abuja, then take off to London. From there, we spend eight hours flying to Houston, hold a meeting and move to Phoenix, then California. We return to Texas, go to Dallas, fly back to the UK and eventually return to Nigeria," he said.

"Just imagine it. Just visualise what I'm saying."

"One in a million"

Dr. Mo described Obi as "one in a million", expressing admiration for the amount of travelling and the number of engagements he handles.

For anyone who has done long-distance travel, moving through several cities, attending meetings and catching yet another flight can be exhausting. Doing it repeatedly, while running a national campaign, is another level entirely.

Over to you

How does Peter Obi manage such a demanding schedule, and where does he get the energy to keep moving?