Bruno Fernandes has reaffirmed his commitment to Manchester United after rejecting a lucrative £100million move to Saudi Arabia last summer, insisting his decision had nothing to do with next year’s World Cup.
The United captain, who was reportedly offered a staggering £200m contract by Al-Hilal in addition to the proposed transfer fee, said he turned down the approach purely because he wanted to remain at Old Trafford.
Speaking while on international duty with Portugal ahead of their World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, Fernandes dismissed speculation that he had stayed in Europe to protect his place in the national squad.
“I didn’t close the door on moving to Saudi Arabia because of the World Cup,” he said.
“That was never in my mind. I wanted to stay at Manchester United, and the club wanted me to stay. That’s all there is to it.”
The 31-year-old midfielder has been one of the few consistent performers at United since his £47m move from Sporting Lisbon in 2020.
A creative and combative presence in the heart of midfield, he has maintained high standards amid years of turmoil under successive managers, including Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim.
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Bruno Fernandes has reaffirmed his commitment to Manchester United after rejecting a lucrative £100million move to Saudi Arabia last summer, insisting his decision had nothing to do with next year’s World Cup
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Fernandes’ loyalty has been tested in recent seasons as United’s decline has deepened.
The club finished 15th in the Premier League last term, their lowest position in modern history, and have made another poor start under Amorim, winning fewer than half of their opening seven league games and crashing out of the Carabao Cup to League Two side Grimsby Town.
Despite mounting frustration among supporters, Fernandes remains one of the few players to command respect within the dressing room and among fans.
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Bruno Fernandes remains a vital player at Man United, having turned down a huge move to Saudi Arabia back in the summer
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His refusal to follow the growing list of European stars heading to Saudi Arabia was viewed as a rare show of allegiance at a time when financial temptation has lured many high-profile names to the Gulf.
While Al-Hilal’s interest appeared genuine — their president reportedly made direct contact with the player’s representatives — Fernandes said there was never any real possibility of a deal being done.
United were reluctant to sell, and the midfielder, who still has two years left on his contract, made it clear he saw his future at Old Trafford.
Asked whether he could see himself staying beyond this season, Fernandes chose not to speculate.
“That’s an impossible scenario to imagine, because it’s nothing that’s been discussed with me,” he said.
“When it was discussed with me, I spoke openly with you at a press conference before a Nations League match.
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Bruno Fernandes has been at Man United since joining from Sporting Lisbon back in the January transfer window of 2020
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“I like to enjoy the moment, and the most important thing for me now is representing the national team.
“It’s a source of enormous pride to play for Portugal, and I still don’t know if I’ll play tomorrow, let alone if I’ll leave Manchester United in a year.
“I’m happy where I am. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have stayed, but it’s something that doesn’t affect me.”
Fernandes’ comments will reassure United supporters who have seen several of the club’s top talents linked with exits in recent months.
Though his frustration with the team’s inconsistency has occasionally shown, the midfielder continues to embody the leadership and commitment demanded of a United captain.
Whether his loyalty will be rewarded with success remains uncertain. But for now, Fernandes insists he has no regrets about rejecting Saudi riches in favour of staying to fight for a club still struggling to rediscover its identity.