Bruno Fernandes: I Rejected Saudi Offer to Chase My Manchester United Dreams

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has disclosed that he turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia to stay and pursue his ambitions with the English giants.

The Portuguese midfielder, who will mark his 300th appearance for the Red Devils in Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brighton at Old Trafford, said his desire to achieve more with United outweighed the financial allure of the Saudi Pro League.

United have endured several difficult seasons since Fernandes joined in 2020, finishing 15th last season — their worst league position since 1973–74 — and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham, which dashed their Champions League hopes.

During the summer transfer window, Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal reportedly made a tempting bid for the United skipper. However, Fernandes said he declined the move after consulting his family and reflecting on his unfinished goals at the club.

“We always say we have an offer from Saudi because obviously wherever I have to go, they have to come. They can choose not, but I’d prefer them to come,” Fernandes said, referring to his wife Ana and their family.

“The first thing she said was, ‘Have you achieved everything you wanted to achieve at the club?’ Because she knows that I haven’t.”

Fernandes, often described as fiery and emotional on the pitch, has faced criticism for his passionate reactions during matches. But United manager Ruben Amorim believes that intensity stems from Fernandes’ deep drive to win major honours like the Premier League and the Champions League.

“The manager spoke with me,” Fernandes revealed. “He said I was still part of the project. He wanted me to stay. The club said the same.”

He added that he would only consider leaving if the club no longer saw him as part of their future plans.

“I always said that if the club was like ‘Bruno, we want to cash in, we want to make some money, we don’t think you can be part of the future project’ or whatever, I would be like ‘OK, I have to find a solution for myself and my family, and I will leave’. But obviously that wasn’t the case. I felt I was still part of the plan, that I could still help the club achieve our aims.”

Fernandes, whose current contract runs until 2027 with an option for an extra year, said he remains fully committed to the club and will not discuss his future until after next year’s World Cup.

“As I’ve always said, I feel good here,” he said. “I want to achieve my dreams still. But obviously I can’t talk by the side of the club.

“I’ve seen a lot of people saying I already had an agreement to go next season. If the club has done that, it wasn’t made with me. My agent knows how I work — if he wants to talk to me, it will be after the World Cup. Until then, I won’t speak to anyone.”

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