Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has rejected a big-money move to Saudi Arabia, choosing instead to remain in Europe and continue playing at the highest level.
According to well-known football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Fernandes received a huge contract offer from Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal but turned it down. “Despite crazy contract proposal from the Saudi Pro League club, Bruno Fernandes wants to continue playing football in Europe,” Romano posted on Tuesday. “Man United captain wants to play at top level in Europe. Decision made.”
Reports say the 30-year-old Portuguese midfielder was offered a deal worth around £100 million. The Saudi club are said to have tabled an offer worth £200milion over a three-year contract Al Hilal was also ready to almost triple his current weekly wages of £250,000 at Manchester United.
However, Fernandes is not ready to leave European football. It was reported that the player discussed the offer with his family and decided to stay, as both a personal and football decision. He still believes he has a lot to offer in top-level competitions.
Fernandes has been a key player for Manchester United since joining the club from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020. So far, he has scored 98 goals and provided 87 assists in 290 matches for the Red Devils.
He is under contract at the club until 2027, with an option to extend for another year. Manchester United have made it clear they do not want to sell their captain.
United’s head coach Ruben Amorim also believed Fernandes would remain at the club. When asked if the midfielder had played his last match for United during their recent 3-1 friendly win over Hong Kong, Amorim said, “I do not think so. I do not know for sure, nobody knows, but I do not think so.”
Amorim added, “I think he wants to stay, he is saying ‘no’ to a lot of things, but it shows that he wants to win and he is really good and needs to be in the best league in the world.”
He also said, “Yes, we can turn down a £100m bid. We can find another way to earn money. Of course I am the manager, but sometimes it is the player’s decision.”
Speaking about Fernandes’ mindset, Amorim said, “Of course in a lot of games this season he was so frustrated, but he knows what we are doing. The feeling that I have every time I speak to him is he wants to continue for sure at Man United.”
