Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes has finally broken his silence on the Al-Hilal transfer interest during the 2025 summer transfer window.
The Portugal international was tipped to move to the Saudi Pro League last summer, and there were suggestions that he could accept a significant increase in his wages.
United could also have received as much as £100 million from his sale, but nothing materialised in the end as the 31-year-old was committed to staying with the Red Devils.
In an exclusive interview with Canal11 (via Mais Futebol), Fernandes has now revealed that the club wanted him to leave, and hit out at the lack of courage among United’s directors.
The captain said that he decided to stay with United for personal reasons. Manager Ruben Amorim also wished to keep him, but he was hurt at not receiving the same response from the club.
He said: “I can’t complain, I’m very well paid, but obviously the difference is huge. That was never what guided me. If one day I have to play in Saudi Arabia, I’ll play in Saudi Arabia.
“My lifestyle will change, my children’s lives will be sunny, after six years in Manchester with cold and rain, I’ll be playing in a growing league, with recognised players.
“I could have left like many people do and said: ‘I want to leave, I don’t want to train, I just want to leave for €20m or €30m, so they pay me more on the other side.’
“But I never did that. I never felt in a position to do that, because I felt that the empathy and affection I had for the club were the same.
“But there comes a point where, for them, money is more important than anything. The club wanted me to go, I have that in my head.
“I told the directors this, but I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision.
“I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely like the club. The conversation with the manager also made me stay.
“But, from the club’s side, I felt a bit like, ‘if you leave, it’s not so bad for us.’ It hurts me a lot.
“More than hurting, it makes me sad because I’m a player they have nothing to criticise about. I’m always available, I always play, good or bad. I give my all.
“Then you see things around you, players who don’t value the club as much and don’t defend the club as much… that makes you sad.”
Fernandes has been simply outstanding this season
Fernandes has primarily played as a central midfielder for the Mancunian giants this campaign.
The £47 million signing had a slow start to the season as he was adapting to his new role. He missed a crucial penalty during the 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage in August.
However, his form has improved drastically as the season has progressed. Fernandes has five goals and seven assists in 16 league games; only Erling Haaland has more goal contributions.
He has been operating in a deeper role to compensate for other attacking midfielders, but has still been the club’s best creative outlet with 12 goal involvements thus far.
With Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo having left for Africa Cup of Nations duty, it remains to be seen whether the Portuguese plays higher up the field this month.
Amorim has been experimenting with a 4-3-3 set-up in training. Fernandes could operate as the most advanced midfielder if the manager changes his tactical system.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com