Saudi Arabia could have transformed his lifestyle and earnings, but Fernandes insists money has never been the primary driver of his career. He spoke of resisting the temptation to force a move, choosing instead to honour his bond with the club.
"The issue of loyalty isn’t viewed the same way it used to be," he said. "I could have left in the last transfer window, I would have earned much more money, I was going to leave a season ago – I won’t say where – but I would have won many trophies that season.
"I can’t complain, I’m very well paid, but obviously the difference is abysmal. 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 renowned 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 20 or 30 million, so they pay me more on the other side.’ But I never did that. I never felt in a position to do it, because I felt that the empathy and affection I had for the club were the same."
Despite the turbulence, Fernandes remains central to United’s present. His current contract runs until 2027, with an option for a further year. He has hinted that decisions about his long-term future may wait until after the 2026 World Cup, when he expects to line up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal.