Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen believes Bruno Fernandes would perform a U-turn on his loyalty and leave the club this summer if Real Madrid came knocking. Fernandes has been widely hailed for rejecting a highly lucrative offer to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this summer.
Al-Hilal reportedly wanted to almost treble his £250,000-a-week salary at Old Trafford and had prepared a £100million bid to convince United to part ways. However, following crunch talks with the club, Ruben Amorim and his family, Fernandes decided to stay put despite a disastrous 2024/25 season.
United slumped to a 15th-place Premier League finish and entered the summer still reeling from heartbreak in the Europa League final.
A 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao not only handed their English rivals a first major trophy in 17 years, but it also denied Champions League qualification through the back door.
United are not expected to spark fireworks next season, either, barring a miraculous turn of fortunes once Amorim has had a full pre-season and a summer transfer window to re-shape his squad.
And while Meulensteen believes Fernandes snubbed a Saudi switch with relocating his family in mind, he is sure the situation would have been different if a European giant like Real came knocking.
"Bruno Fernandes is a family man and might not have wanted to move them all so far away to Saudi," Meulensteen told YaySweepstakes.com.
"But if Real Madrid had come knocking? I think it would have been a different story.
"It would have been interesting to see if he would want to leave. Players all want to play at the very highest level and win the biggest trophies.
"Real Madrid have a very, very good team for next season, and I think he'd play the perfect role in it.
"Okay you can go to Saudi and earn substantial money, but I think his family values kept him from that move."
Fernandes could be cautiously optimistic that better days are ahead at Old Trafford based on United's early transfer business.
The Portuguese playmaker should be at the heart of superior attacking players next season, with Matheus Cunha joining from Wolves in a £62.5m deal.
Bryan Mbeumo is set to also land in M16 as United close in on an agreement worth over £60m with Brentford.
Amorim reportedly also wants a new starting striker, with Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike among the options linked.