Portugal international midfielder Bruno Fernandes is subject of speculation linking him with a move to the Saudi Pro League, although Manchester United is said to be relaxed about the reports concerning the club’s captain.
Representatives of the 30-year-old are said to have met with Al Hilal officials to discuss a possible move for Fernandes, according to BBC Sport, ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup which kicks off mid-June.
The Saudi Pro League giants, who have the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergei Milenkovic-Savic in their ranks, will kick-off their Club World Cup campaign on June 18 against Real Madrid, before facing RB Salzburg of Austria and Mexico’s Pachuca to wrap up their group stage campaign.
Meanwhile, Fernandes is with the United squad currently on a post-season tour in Asia and has featured in games against the ASEAN All-Star and Hong Kong. United boss, Ruben Amorim, remains confident Fernandes “wants to stay”.
But Al Hilal could test that theory with an £80m offer for the player, who emerged as United’s Player of the Season for the fourth time – the joint most at the club. That amount could prove useful as United prepare for a dip in revenue after missing out of European football altogether.
“He is saying no to a lot of things. He needs to be in the best league in the world,” Amorim said after the Red Devils won 3-1 against Hong Kong. “When you talk to someone you have that feeling if he wants to stay. The feeling I get every time I speak with him is that he wants to continue for sure with Man United. You never know.”
Fernandes, who was United’s top scorer last season with 19 goals in all competitions, signed a contract extension in August 2024 which was supposed to see him remain at Old Trafford until the summer of 2027 with the option of an extra year.
Will Al-Hilal have something to say about that?