Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes on Tuesday confirmed that he rejected lucrative offer from Al Hilal after talks with head coach Ruben Amorim.
According to him, he wants to continue playing at the highest level, but if United had asked him to leave, he would have taken the offer.
Fernandes, 30, whose current contract with United runz until 2027, was offered almost triple his £250,000-a-week wages to play in the Saudi Pro League.
Al Hilal were willing to pay £100 million to hire his seveoces, but the midfielder said that after discussing his future with United, the club told him they don’t want to sell him.
On Tuesday, while on international duty preparing for the Nations League semi-final match with Portugal against Germany, he confirmed speaking with the president of Al Hilal but opted to remain at Old Trafford.
“Al Hilal president spoke with me one month bavk about the possibility of me going the club,” he told reporters, according to O Jogo, a Portuguese outlet.
“It took me a while to think about the future. I am open to it if United thinks it’s time I move on. I spoke with Amorim. He tried to talk me out of it.
“I spoke to the club – they said they have no intention of selling me, but wouldn’t stop me if I want to leave.”
He said that it was a “very ambitious proposal” and his wife asked him what is “professional goals” would be.
He noted that his countrymen Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo are already at the club, and his children are used to playing with their kids.
But because he believed he still had a lot to offer at the highest level, he rejected the offer.
“I want to keep playing at the highest level in the big competitions, because I believe I can still do that,” he said.
“I want to keep doing what makes me happy. I am passionate about this sport – I am happy with my decision.”
Since joining from Sporting CP in 2020, he has gone on to play 290 games for the club, scoring 98 goals and providing 87 assists.
