Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has confirmed he turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, citing his desire to keep competing at the highest level and be part of new manager Ruben Amorim’s rebuilding project at Old Trafford.
Speaking at Portugal’s pre-match press conference ahead of their Nations League semi-final clash against Germany in Munich, Fernandes revealed the Saudi club had made a tempting approach.
“The president of Al Hilal called me and asked me if I wanted to move there,” Fernandes said. “The club waited for me to think about my future.”
Despite reports suggesting Al Hilal were prepared to pay up to £100 million for the 30-year-old, Fernandes ultimately decided to remain with United after discussions with the club and manager Amorim.
“I talked to the gaffer and he asked me not to go,” he revealed. “Manchester United said they didn’t want to sell me. They said if I wanted to go, I could, but they didn’t need the money.”
Although a move to the Saudi Pro League would have been convenient—several Portuguese stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, João Cancelo, and Rúben Neves are already based there—Fernandes emphasized his competitive ambitions.
“I want to play at the highest possible level.
I want to play major competitions. I know I still can, and I want to be happy doing the thing I love the most. For better or worse, this is how I see football, and I’m passionate about football, and this is the decision I’ve made.”
United endured a torrid 2024/25 campaign, finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. Despite the disappointing season, Fernandes remained a standout performer, notching 19 goals and 19 assists across all competitions.
Former United captain and pundit Gary Neville described the midfielder’s decision as “significant.”
“I think that there was an element of this situation that meant United getting that level of money, for someone of Bruno’s age, obviously, you couldn’t say that it would have been a bad deal,” Neville said.
“But, on the other hand, Manchester United’s star player—only player at times—for the last four, five, six years, has been Bruno Fernandes. He’s so important.”
Neville continued, “To turn that money down at a point where Manchester United are at their lowest ebb and say, ‘No, I want to fight through this, I want to see it through the other side, I want to come out and achieve things,’ I think it says a lot about him as a person, as a character.
The club needs people who are going to run through a brick wall for them.”
Fernandes has made 290 appearances and scored 98 goals for Manchester United since his arrival from Sporting Lisbon for £47 million in January 2020.
With Amorim expected to oversee a busy summer transfer window, United have already secured Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are strongly linked with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Meanwhile, several departures are anticipated, with the likes of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho reportedly facing uncertain futures.
