Bruno Fernandes decided to stay at Manchester United and reject a move Saudi side Al Hilal out of a desire to remain at the highest level.
It was reported last week that Fernandes was giving serious consideration to a lucrative offer from Al Hilal following the worst Premier League season in United’s history, which saw them finish 15th. Defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final ensured they will not play in the Champions League, with the 2025-26 season set to be the first since 2014-15 without European football at Old Trafford.
Al Hilal were reportedly willing to pay £80million for the midfielder, who was voted United’s Player of the Season for the fourth successive campaign.
That kind of fee would be extremely useful to a United team that has already signed Matheus Cunha for £62.5million for Wolves and is said to be the frontrunner for Brentford forward Bryan Mbuemo.
But with United seemingly not in a position where they need to sell Fernandes to fund an overhaul of Ruben Amorim’s squad, the Portugal international elected to remain at Old Trafford to try to turn their fortunes around and get the club back on the European stage.
“The president of Al Hilal called me a month ago to ask,” Fernandes said at a press conference ahead of Portugal’s Nations League semi-final with Germany.
“There was a waiting period on my part to think about what the future would hold. I would be open to it, if Manchester United felt it was my time.
“I spoke with Mister Ruben Amorim, who really tried to talk me out of it. I spoke with the club, which wasn’t willing to sell, only if I truly wanted to leave. We never talked about money; that was all handled by my agent, not me.
“I spoke with my family to understand if that was what I wanted for my future. It was actually my wife who asked me — I never said yes or no. She put my professional priorities ahead of everything else.
“It would have been an easy move. I had Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo there, two people I have a great friendship with. But I want to stay at the highest level, play in big competitions, because I still feel capable.
“I want to keep being happy, I’m still very passionate about this sport, and I’m happy with my decision.”
