After months of negotiations, Marouane Fellaini has finally agreed on terms to stay at Manchester United. The midfielder who is currently helping Belgium at the World Cup put pen to paper to extend his contract with the Red Devil by two more years with the option for a third.
Having prolonged the decision, many fans were expecting the Fellaini to depart the club when his old contract ends on July 1. The 29-year-old midfielder came under strong criticism last season after supporters questioned his role and contribution when given the nod to feature in games by Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese manager, however, frequently jumped to his player's defense and cited his importance to his set-up.
Numerous reports suggest that teams desisted from acquiring the signature of the former Evertonian due to his enormous wage demand, hence his decision to stay at Manchester United. The player and the English outfit subsequently confirmed the news on their official Twitter page and the new development has clearly not gone down well among the club's fan base.
I am pleased to be continuing my journey as a Manchester United player. I made this decision because I am very happy here. Also, I feel like this team, under Jose, still has a lot we want to achieve. I would like to say a special thank you to Jose for the faith he has always.. pic.twitter.com/OVlogjmtJW
— Marouane Fellaini (@Fellaini) June 29, 2018
Marouane Fellaini has signed a new #MUFC contract which runs until June 2020, with the option to extend for a further year.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 29, 2018
Full details: https://t.co/aC01F3JIDs pic.twitter.com/oFvKHSPxyw
Here are some of the reactions from the social media platform:
Cannot get my head around the Fellaini extension. A limited player and a half decent Plan B, who somehow managed to play the club into this. Probably stops the arrival of a better player and suggests United's style won't change. Ridiculous, all told.
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) June 29, 2018
Looks like Fellaini basically flaunted himself across Europe to get a better offer than United had on the table. Then when no club was stupid enough to pay up he settled for United. Really demonstrates the attitude of a player who loves the club....
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) June 29, 2018
It's not just the fact we are re-signing an epitome of relegation dogfight, long ball specialist, it's the fact Fellaini mocked the hell out of the club and the fans by rinsing us for every penny and acting like he's the Afro Zidane. Embarrassing doesn't do this justice. #mufc
— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) June 29, 2018
CONFIRMED: Fellaini has signed a new contract until 2020 with the option for a further year.
— Manchester United (@ManUnitedWorld) June 29, 2018
What an utter embarrassment whether you like the player or not. Make a complete mockery of the club. pic.twitter.com/bPRwBHjq9M
Fellaini is World Class because he had an ok game against a shit England side
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) June 29, 2018
Let's get Januzaj back because he scored a goal against a shit England side
Context is something that is sadly missing in football
He started the trophy-less era Mop aka(Marouane Fellaini). First signing after Sir Alex left. This I thought was a joke now I know it is real. If he is at the club we have no chance of winning a title. What is happening to the club I knew and have supported for 35 plus years.
— Kyle wilcrout (@KyleWilcrout) June 29, 2018
Mourinho fought to keep Fellaini and his 'special thank you' suggests he was the deciding factor. Makes #mufc look weak to keep an injury-prone squad player who looked elsewhere but Mourinho unlikely to care when he keeps his man.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) June 29, 2018