Manchester United have confirmed Marouane Fellaini has signed a 12-month contract extension to keep him at Old Trafford until 2018.
Marouane Fellaini
It was reported on Wednesday that the Belgium international, a £27.5 million signing from Everton in August 2013, signed the contract last month after being told by Jose Mourinho that he remained an important part of his plans going forward.
Fellaini penned a four-year contract upon signing for United in 2013 and has made 107 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals including the second in Tuesday’s 2-0 EFL Cup semifinal first-leg victory over Hull City.
The 29-year-old has overcome negativity from supporters in order to secure his place in Mourinho’s squad, and hugged Mourinho on the touchline following his goal against Hull to give a visible signal of his respect for the Portuguese coach.
With Morgan Schneiderlin agreeing a £22m transfer to Everton and United open to offers for former Bayern Munich and Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, Fellaini’s importance to Mourinho is unlikely to diminish this season.
But with United pursuing Monaco’s 22-year-old midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, Fellaini’s long-term prospects may be under threat if the club can complete a deal for the France under-21 international.
Sources close to Fellaini have insisted that the player is determined to remain at United beyond his contract extension, but the club’s move to trigger their option may ultimately be a move designed at protecting the value of their asset and avoid the risk of losing the player as a free agent at the end of this season.
