EPL: Bruno Fernandes says he felt hurt by Manchester United over Saudi move
Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes, has revealed he was hurt by the club’s handling of his failed summer transfer to Saudi Arabia, a move ultimately blocked by manager Rúben Amorim.
He spoke openly about the situation in an interview with Canal 11, a channel owned by the Portuguese Football Federation, on Monday 15 December.
Bruno Fernandes turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi side Al Hilal, reportedly valued at over €100 million with wages exceeding £500,000 per week.
Despite the financial benefits and the chance to win more trophies elsewhere, he chose to stay at Old Trafford out of loyalty and family reasons.
The 31-year-old admitted that during the process, he felt undervalued by the club. “From the club’s side, I felt it was like, ‘If you leave, it’s not so bad for us,’” he said. “That hurt me a bit. More than hurt, it made me sad.”
He stressed his commitment to Manchester United: “I chose to stay not only for my family, but because I genuinely love the club. I’m a player who no one can criticise. I’m always available and always give my best.”
He also revealed that his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo had advised him to leave. “Cristiano gave me his advice, but the final decision was always mine. I decided to stay because I genuinely love the club, even though loyalty isn’t as well-regarded as it once was,” Fernandes said.
Fernandes also revealed the mixed signals he received from the club. “The club wanted me to leave. I told the directors that, I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision because the manager wanted me. But if I said I wanted to leave, even with the manager wanting me to stay, the club would let me,” he said.
Widely regarded as one of United’s best signings in the post–Sir Alex Ferguson era, Fernandes said he could have left even before the Saudi offer arrived but chose to remain loyal during both the highs and lows of the season.
This season, Fernandes has continued to make an impact, contributing 5 goals and 6 assists in 16 Premier League matches. Since joining United in 2020, he has scored 103 goals in 307 appearances, showing how important he remains to the club.
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