Bruno Fernandes says he had an opportunity to join Al-Hilal, but turned down the offer to continue playing ‘at the highest level’ and challenge for ‘major titles’ with Manchester United.
Al-Hilal had been willing to pay United a fee of £100million to prise the 30-year-old midfielder away from Old Trafford this summer.
The Saudi Pro League outfit also told Fernandes there were prepared to triple his current wages to get a deal over the line for the Portugal international – United’s captain and talisman.
Fernandes would have been in line to bank around £200m over a three-year period had he said yes to the lucrative move and his entourage held positive discussions with Al-Hilal over the weekend.
But widespread reports this morning indicated that Fernandes had decided to reject Al-Hilal’s proposal in order to stay on at the Theatre of Dreams for what will be his sixth full season.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
‘There was an opportunity. The president [of Al-Hilal] called me and asked if I wanted to go there. They were waiting for me,’ Fernandes told reporters ahead of the Portugal’s Nations League semi-final with Germany.
‘I spoke to coach [Ruben] Amorim and he asked me not to go. My wife asked me what I wanted to do. I want to play at the highest level and compete for major titles.’
Fernandes echoed what Amorim had suggested just days earlier, claiming United ‘don’t need the money’ enough to sell him this summer.
‘Manchester United didn’t want to sell me. They don’t need the money,’ he added.
‘If I had wanted to leave, they would have made it happen.’
Fernandes is keen to put the speculation over his future to bed and focus on purely footballing matters, with a place in the Nations League final at stake on Wednesday.
‘Our season [at United] was very tough, we weren’t able to achieve our goals. That’s a negative,’ he continued.
‘I love being here with the national team now. I’m always happy here.
I hope we can reach the Nations League final.’
More to follow.
from: elfutbolero.us