Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United applauds the fans after the team's victory in the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Everton FC at Old Trafford on December 01, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Bruno Fernandes has rejected Saudi Arabia
Bruno Fernandes has decided to REJECT a move to Saudi Arabia. The Manchester United captain has turned down a £700k-a-week switch to Al-Hilal, worth £100m to him over three years - and a £100m transfer fee to United.
And that leaves United chiefs, led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with no choice but to listen to head coach in this summer's transfer market.
Al Hilal are playing in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup and Saudi chiefs - operating in Paris this week - have been pushing hard to get a number of deals done before the tournament. But their hopes of making Fernandes their marquee new signing - in a move that would see him link up with Portugal team-mates Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo - have failed.
The 30-year-old has been weighing up a move to Saudi over the past couple of weeks, following United’s disastrous season. He has been aware of the monstrous money he could make by moving to the Middle East, as well as the effect the £100m could have on United, especially since there will be no European football at Old Trafford next term.
But he has also been reticent to move from both a personal and professional point of view.
Fernandes hasn’t wanted to uproot his young family, who are settled in Manchester, and make a major cultural change by moving to Saudi. And he also doesn’t want to end his time in major European football yet, even amid United’s struggles.
As such, he has doubled down on his decision to lead Ruben Amorim’s United overhaul, which began this weekend with the £62.5m arrival of Matheus Cunha and is likely to soon see Bryan Mbeumo arrive from Brentford.
It is a huge boost to boss Amorim, who has been desperate for Fernandes to STAY - and told Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the club's decision-makers to make up the money elsewhere.
Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Amorim will continue together
Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Amorim will continue together
Speaking after United ended their post-season tour of Asia with a 3-1 victory over Hong Kong last week, he made his feelings very clear when asked if it was the last supporters had seen of Fernandes in a red shirt.
"I don't think so, I don't know for sure. Nobody knows but I don't think so," the Red Devils boss said. "I think he is seeing us taking some actions to change all the things and I think he saw that and I think he wants to stay.
"He is saying no to a lot of things but he shows he wants to win. He's really young, he's really good he needs to be in the best league in the world.”
Asked if United were in a position to turn down the money, he replied: "Yes, we can find another way to earn money.”
Now club chiefs will have to do just that.
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