Pundit Rio Ferdinand has dropped his two cents on Bruno Fernandes after the Manchester United captain’s decision regarding the fierce transfer interest from Al Hilal.
Bruno Fernandes is currently away from Old Trafford and the 30-year-old Manchester United star is away on international duty with the Portugal team.
The United captain had featured in the Red Devils’ post-season tour of Asia in May under Ruben Amorim after a turbulent 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
Fernandes’ United future had been in doubt in recent weeks, despite Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim insisting that the Portuguese midfielder is a key part of his plans.
Al Hilal have been interested in Fernandes and the Saudi Pro League outfit were prepared to make a lucrative offer to bring the United captain to Saudi Arabia.
It is believed that the Saudi Arabian-based side could have offered United a transfer fee of between £80m and £100m to land Fernandes in the summer window.
READ MORE: Man Utd fans’ instant reaction to Bruno Fernandes’ Al Hilal transfer decision says it all, ‘words cannot express…’
Photo by Annice Lyn/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Annice Lyn/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Rio Ferdinand’s reaction to Bruno Fernandes rejecting Al Hilal’s transfer interest and remaining at Man Utd
Al Hilal wanted to sign Bruno Fernandes ahead of the Saudi Pro League side’s appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this month.
However, Fernandes rejected Al Hilal’s transfer advances and the United ace has made it clear that he wants to remain at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils skipper’s current deal with the Premier League club runs until 2027 after Fernandes inked a new contract with United last summer.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand admitted that even he would have found it difficult to say “no” had Al Hilal made a lucrative transfer move for him.
“Listen, I’ve got to be honest with you,” the United legend said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“I don’t know if I could have said no. He’s 30 years old, at a club that [is] struggling.
“Bruno’s staying, our most potent goalscorer, our biggest provider, our biggest chance maker, he does a lot and our captain.
“I couldn’t have woken up this morning happier, and I did message him. I won’t go into the details of that, but what a man.”
READ MORE: Man Utd told Ruben Amorim ‘has to win’ in situation with Red Devils talent, Gary Neville can only see one outcome now
Gary Neville reacted to Man Utd keeping hold of Bruno Fernandes after Al Hilal failed with their transfer move
Gary Neville shared similar sentiments to ex-United teammate Ferdinand after highlighting the ‘importance’ of Fernandes in the current United first-team squad.
“He’s so important,” he told Sky Sports, as per BBC Sport.
“The fact that he wants to stay, the fact that he wants to go through this and come out the other side, because it would have been easy for him at the end of this season to say, ‘Look, I’m done here,’ will endear him towards Manchester United fans even more.
“To turn that money down at a point where Manchester United are at their lowest ebb and say, ‘No, I want to fight through this, I want to see it through the other side, I want to come out and achieve things,’ I think it says a lot about him as a person, as a character.
“The club needs people who are going to run through a brick wall for them.”
Fernandes was a standout performer in United’s woeful 2024-25 campaign and the Portugal star netted 19 times and registered 19 assists in 57 matches last season.