Bruno Fernandes rejected a £200m contract offer from Saudi club Al Hilal last summer, but the Manchester United captain is set to be targeted again this year
Bruno Fernandes talks about his promising future (Image: Sky Sports)
Bruno Fernandes has dropped the clearest hint yet that he will remain at Manchester United. Fernandes, 31, was offered a lucrative three-year contract by Al Hilal last summer and the Saudi Pro League side are said to be willing to hand him a package totaling £200m.
However, the United captain has ignored the suggestions and is enjoying perhaps his best season since moving to Old Trafford in 2020. Despite his commitment, Fernandes’ future is again the subject of speculation ahead of this summer’s transfer window.
His contract, which runs until the end of next season, includes a release clause of £57m. However, in an interview with Sky Sports’ Gary Neville, he clarified that “no club in the world can match the affinity with United”.
“It’s not a question of loyalty,” Fernandez explained. “I could have gone two years ago, I could have gone three years ago, I could have gone last season, but I want to be here.
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“I think being successful at this club is something you’ll never get at any other club. The day you get the joy, everything you get, what you want from this club, I don’t think you can get that from any other club in the world.”
Fernandes has won two domestic cups since joining United from Sporting Lisbon in a £47m deal. But the Portugal international won’t be satisfied until he regains the Premier League title.
“I know how much the fans want this and how passionate they are,” Fernandes continued. “I know how long they have been waiting for the club to come back.
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Bruno Fernandes is having a great season (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
“I’m in the same boat as them. I want this ship. I don’t want it to be stable, I want it to move forward and sail as far as it can. Yes, I won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup (but) what this club wants, what the fans want and what I want, myself and the team, we haven’t got it yet. I’m going to work until the end of my contract.”
Fernandes went on to explain why United rejected Al Hilal’s offer, which would have cost them a fee of £100m. He added: “The club were going through a tough period, having just lost the European final and finishing last in United’s history in the Premier League.”
“Six years ago, the club trusted me to come here and believed that I could help the club. At that time, my decision was driven by the fact that I was not achieving my dreams here.
Bruno Fernandes feels he has unfinished business at Manchester United (Image: Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
“I haven’t achieved everything I wanted. I’ve never hidden the fact that I want to win the Premier League and the Champions League with this club. Maybe I can achieve it, maybe I won’t. But I’m going to keep trying until I get the chance or until I’m here to achieve it.”
“Will it be difficult? Yes. There are top clubs in the league who have been winning for years and have always been there, but we are not.”
Fernandes has only made three Champions League appearances for United, but the Red Devils will qualify for Europe’s elite competition if they avoid defeat at home to Liverpool on Sunday. It could also be the key to interim manager Michael Carrick taking the permanent job.
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