Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes, has made a choice between staying at Old Trafford or leaving for the Saudi Arabia where a lucrative deal which would more than double his current salary awaits with Pro League giants, Al Hilal.
The Portugal international was one of the standout performers for the Red Devils in an underwhelming season that saw the club finish 15th in the Premier League, then lose in the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur and miss out completely on European football next season.
30-year-old Fernandes featured as Ruben Amorim’s side went on a post-season tour of Asia, losing 1-0 to an ASEAN All-Star side before coming from a goal down to get a 3-1 win over Hong Kong to cap the Far East trip.
For Fernandes, speculation that he may be close to his next club while on the Asia tour became rife as news emerged of a lucrative contract being offered to him by Saudi Pro League giants, Al Hilal.
With a number of national team compatriots already plying their trades in Saudi Arabia, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruben Neves, and Joao Cancelo, along with a deal that would have taken his weekly wage closer to £1m, Fernandes admitted ahead of the Nations League match against Germany that the offer was exciting.
“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,” Fernandes told the press in Munich where the Nations League semi-final match will take place on Wednesday night.
“Manchester United said they didn’t want to sell me,” the midfielder added. “They said if I wanted to go I could, but they didn’t need the money. I spoke to coach Ruben Amorim who, throughout that period, he was pushing for me not to go.”
Al Hilal were expected to make an offer in the £100m region for Fernandes and possibly sign him in time for the FIFA Club World Cup. That ambition will not see the light of day, however, following Fernandes’ decision to stay at Old Trafford.