MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes says he was hurt by the sense the club would have allowed him to leave during the summer transfer window, despite his own desire to remain at Old Trafford.
The Portugal midfielder rejected a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, which was reportedly prepared to pay around £100 million for his transfer and offer wages of up to £700,000 a week.
Fernandes, 31, is under contract with United until 2027, with an option for a further year.
Speaking to Portuguese broadcaster Canal 11 in an interview recorded several weeks ago, Fernandes said he felt United would not have blocked a move had he chosen to accept the offer.
“From the club, I felt that if I left, it wouldn’t be a big problem,” he said. “That hurt me and made me sad.”
Fernandes said he chose to stay despite the financial incentives elsewhere, citing family considerations, his affection for the club and his desire to continue competing at the highest level in Europe.
He added that United manager Ruben Amorim was keen for him to remain and played a key role in his decision.
The midfielder joined United from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 for £47 million and has since become a central figure, making 307 appearances, scoring 103 goals and providing 93 assists. This season, he has five goals and seven assists in the Premier League.
Fernandes has previously said he will not discuss his future until after next year’s World Cup. United sources told BBC Sport the club has no intention of selling the player and considers him an important part of its long-term plans.
