Bruno Fernandes has reportedly turned down a jaw-dropping £200 million offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, reaffirming his commitment to playing elite-level football in Europe.
The Manchester United skipper has recently been the subject of intense interest from the Saudi club, who are said to have reached out directly to his representatives in the past week.
Mail Sport reports that Fernandes’ agent, Miguel Pinho, was in Riyadh for three days, where he held in-person meetings with Al-Hilal officials at the luxurious Four Seasons hotel.
The Saudi outfit reportedly presented a lucrative offer that included a £200 million three-year contract and a potential £100 million transfer fee for United to consider.
But as of Tuesday morning, fresh reports indicate that Fernandes has made his stance clear, he won’t be making the switch to the Middle East.
According to football insider Fabrizio Romano, the Portuguese star is still motivated by his desire to remain on Europe’s biggest stages.
This desire to stay among Europe’s elite might spell trouble for Manchester United, who endured a dismal season.
The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League and fell short in the Europa League final.
Had they beaten Tottenham in that final, United would have secured a Champions League berth, a potential incentive for Fernandes to stay.
As of now, it’s unclear which top European clubs might attempt to lure him away, but with the door to Saudi Arabia seemingly closed, his next steps will be watched closely.
Al-Hilal had reportedly been willing to raise Fernandes’ current salary from £280,000 a week to a staggering £700,000 tax-free, quadrupling his wages in an attempt to tempt him.
Despite turning down the deal, questions about Fernandes’ future have lingered, especially after he was spotted at a birthday celebration for fellow Portuguese and Al-Hilal defender Joao Cancelo.
The two were seen enjoying a group dinner over the weekend, just before they join up with the Portugal national team. The timing of the gathering only intensified speculation.
Adding fuel to the rumors, Fernandes recently posted a cryptic message on Instagram in Portuguese, “If you tried and failed, congratulations! There are people who don’t even try.”
The post came just after he returned from United’s underwhelming post-season tour of the Far East, where they lost to the ASEAN All-Stars in Malaysia, disappointing fans who had paid up to £260 for tickets.
In their second tour game, United managed to beat Hong Kong 3-1 after trailing, and head coach Ruben Amorim shared his belief that Fernandes’ United chapter isn’t closing just yet.
“I don’t think so. I don’t know for sure. I think he wants to stay. He is saying no to a lot of things.
“The club can find other ways to make money. The feeling I get is that he wants to continue for sure with Man United, you never know,” Amorim said.
While Manchester United sources continue to insist they are not looking to sell Fernandes, the financial pressure following their Europa League final defeat and the loss of £100 million in potential Champions League income, complicates matters.
Fernandes himself didn’t rule out an exit, speaking candidly after the match, “If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it’s what it is. Football sometimes is like this.”
