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Juventus considering Bruno Fernandes makes sense on paper. That much is clear. If you are looking for creativity, leadership and end product, you begin with the profile of the Manchester United captain. According to Caught Offside, the Italian club are weighing up the idea as Luciano Spalletti wants more quality in attacking areas.

There is a clear reason behind the interest. Fernandes is 31, experienced, productive and already familiar with Italian football from his spells with Novara, Udinese and Sampdoria. He would not need much time to adjust. For a Juventus side trying to rebuild itself as a real force again, that is important.

Even so, sensible interest and a realistic chance are two very different things. At the moment, this looks much more like a club keeping an eye on a situation than one truly in position to finish a deal. Manchester United have an option to extend Fernandes’ contract by another year, and more importantly, talks over a fresh agreement are already progressing. That changes the picture completely.

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Juventus can admire the player as much as they want, but admiration does not pay transfer fees or wages. The reported asking price of between €50 million and €75 million is already a huge amount for a 31-year-old, even one of Fernandes’ quality. Then there is the salary. He currently earns around £375,000 per week, with suggestions that a new deal could take that figure close to £400,000.

That is where the issue lies for Juventus. Not the football side. The financial side. If they are serious, they would have to commit massive money on both counts. And that is before even considering the wider cost of assembling a squad capable of challenging for major trophies.

From United’s point of view, this should be simple. Fernandes has weaknesses, as every high-volume playmaker does, but he remains their most dependable creator and one of the few players in the squad who regularly accepts responsibility. He scores goals, creates chances and rarely disappears.

The original report also mentions ongoing discussions over improved terms, while noting that no final agreement has yet been signed. That leaves a small window for speculation, but only a small one. There is also reference to a £56 million release clause for clubs outside England, which naturally adds more interest. Even so, interest does not mean it is bound to happen.

United are still rebuilding, and that is where the conversation becomes straightforward. Selling your captain, your main creator and one of your few proven performers in the middle of that process would be reckless unless the player himself wanted to leave. Nothing here strongly indicates that.

Juventus are right to keep watching. Good clubs do that. But unless negotiations between Fernandes and United break down unexpectedly, this feels unlikely to move much further. The sensible outcome is the obvious one: Manchester United get the renewal completed and move on.

As a Manchester United supporter, this is the sort of report that makes you shake your head because it highlights the club’s usual habit of leaving obvious business unresolved for too long. Bruno Fernandes should have been secured cleanly and quickly. There should not be room for Juventus, or anyone else, to circle and create noise around the captain.

And let us be honest, whatever people think of Fernandes when he gets frustrated or tries too much, United are a much poorer side without him. He carries this team through matches. He creates when others go missing. He takes responsibility when too many around him seem happy to drift.

If Juventus want him, of course they do. Any serious club would want a player who delivers goals, assists, availability and leadership. That is what should worry United fans. When your best and most reliable player is appealing to clubs with a clear sporting plan, you need to act decisively.

The troubling part is not Juventus liking him. The troubling part is United still needing to be reminded how important he is. Pay him, extend him, make the commitment clear and remove the uncertainty. In a squad that still looks uneven and short on personality, losing Fernandes would be self-inflicted damage on a huge scale.