Manchester United transfer news: Jose Fonte moves closer to Southampton exit after blasting club in contract row
Captain was offered an £80,000-a-week contract after winning Euro 2016 with Portugal in the summer
MANCHESTER UNITED target Jose Fonte has moved another step closer to leaving Southampton by blasting club bosses for refusing him a new long-term deal.
Captain Fonte, 32, was offered an £80,000-a-week contract after winning Euro 2016 with Portugal in the summer.
But Saints chiefs we were not willing to extend the agreement beyond the end of next season when Fonte becomes a free agent.
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Frustrated Fonte, who rejected the offer of a pay rise and is also wanted by Everton, moaned: “There’s no contract on the table.
“There was in the summer, they offered me a pay rise. They didn’t offer me a new contract.
“They offered me a pay rise which I’m entitled to discuss with my agent and entitled to say no to as well.
“I’m entitled to have my own opinion, so apart from that that’s it.”
Centre back Fonte has also hit out at manager Claude Puel’s squad rotation policy which has seen him left out of all five Europa League games this season.
Fonte, Saints’ longest serving player after joining from Crystal Palace in 2010, said: “Of course I’m disappointed. I want to play every game.
“I’m fit to play every game. I’m always on the dance floor – I’m always fit. I worked really hard last year to play Europa League.
“I have to accept the decision from the manager and be ready when I am called to play.
“If I’m called to play Europa League, I will be there, as simple as that.
“It is frustrating, but it’s football. Like the manager said, he wants people to be 100 per cent fit for every game. You have to accept the decision and move on.”
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Saints face Israel champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva in their final group game at St Mary’s needing a win or goalless draw to progress to the knockout round.
Fonte said: “It’s a massive game and I’m ready. We need to win this game.”