Going nowhere: Bruno Fernandes will remain at Manchester United after rejecting a move to Al-Hilal
The influential Red Devils captain had been adamant that he would stay at Old Trafford this summer despite their torrid campaign, though was subject to sustained transfer interest from Saudi Arabia.
Fernandes is believed to have received multiple offers from Al-Hilal as they looked to make another marquee signing ahead of the inaugural expanded Club World Cup in the United States this summer, with his United future thrust into considerable doubt last week when reports emerged during the club’s post-season tour of Southeast Asia that he was “seriously considering” a final approach.
The speculation only increased further over the weekend when Fernandes was spotted attending the birthday party of friend and long-time Portugal team-mate Joao Cancelo, the former Manchester City full-back who currently plays for Al-Hilal.
A final decision from the Portuguese was expected this week on a move that would have reportedly been worth £700,000 a week tax-free and around £200million in total, in addition to netting United a transfer fee of £100m that would have provided a key boost with regards to their own ambitions to overhaul Ruben Amorim’s underperforming squad this summer.
However, it emerged on Tuesday morning that Fernandes had declined Al-Hilal’s final offer, with the 30-year-old explaining why he came to that difficult decision as he addressed the media later in the evening ahead of Portugal’s high-profile Nations League semi-final tie against Germany in Munich on Wednesday night.
Read More
Transfer news LIVE! New Arsenal striker twist; Mbeumo to Man Utd boost
Sancho to return to Man Utd as Chelsea face £5m penalty
Man Utd boost as Fernandes makes decision on £100m Al-Hilal transfer
SponsoredLibya reveals Vision 2030 opportunity for British businesses
“The president of Al-Hilal [Fahad bin Nafel] called me a month ago to ask me about it,” he said. “There was a waiting period for me to think about the future. As I have always said, I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so.
“I spoke to Ruben Amorim who, throughout that period, was very annoying to me not to go! The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave, that it was not a financial issue. It was a very ambitious proposal.
“The president was a fantastic person. We never discussed the amount [initially]. With my agent? Of course.
“Then, I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career. She was someone who always supported me a lot.
“It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Joao Cancelo there, my children are used to playing with him in the national team, we have a great friendship.
“But I want to maintain myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions, and I feel capable of it.”