Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes claims 'the club wanted me to leave' amid lucrative Al Hilal summer transfer offer - 'It makes me sad'

Manchester United's 31-year-old captain Bruno Fernandes has shed further light on a reported £100 million offer from Al Hilal that came in for him during the 2025 summer transfer window. The Portugal international decided to stay at Old Trafford, but has claimed that some officials at Old Trafford had been keen for him to leave in order to cash in on the player.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes claimed "the club wanted me to leave" when they received a bid reportedly worth £100 million from Al Hilal in the summer.

The midfielder was linked with a big-money transfer in the summer transfer window as the club were believed to be willing to let him go in order to help finance a rebuild under manager Ruben Amorim.

Wages of £700,000 a week were mooted as part of the lucrative offer, but the 31-year-old Portugal international decided to remain with the Premier League club following talks with Amorim.

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Speaking to Canal 11, a television channel owned by the Portuguese Football Federation, the skipper said that he felt some of the Old Trafford hierarchy would have preferred for him to move on when the offer came in.

"I could have left in this transfer window, I would have earned much more money," he said, in quotes reported by ESPN. "I was going to leave a season ago, I would have won many trophies this season, but I decided not to go, not only for family reasons but because I genuinely love the club.

"From the club, I felt it was, 'If you go it's not so bad for us'. It hurts me a bit. More than hurting me, it makes me sad. I'm a player who has nothing to point to, I'm always available, I always give my best...

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"I don't see it as a matter of money. Financially, I can't complain, although the difference with Saudi Arabia is massive.

"If I ever go to play in Saudi Arabia, I will. It won't be for the money. I'll go because the lifestyle will change, my children's lives will be sunny, after six years of cold and rain in Manchester, because I'll be playing in a league that's growing.

"The passion and empathy for the club were the same, but it reaches a point where money is more important to them than you. 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.

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"But if I said I wanted to leave, even with the manager wanting me to stay, the club would let me."

The offer came after United finished in 15th place, their lowest-ever Premier League placing, following a desperate season that saw Erik ten Hag sacked in November 2024, before Amorim decided to send Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho out on loan to Aston Villa, Real Betis and Chelsea respectively.

None of the trio are at Manchester United this season, with Rashford on loan at Barcelona, Sancho loaned to Villa, and Antony now a permanent Betis player.

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United also missed out on UEFA Champions League football when they lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League final.

United drew 4-4 at home with Bournemouth on Monday, leaving them in sixth place in the Premier League.

Fernandes registered his 103rd goal and 93rd assist for the club during the match, and made his 307th appearance for the Red Devils. His current contract runs until 2027, with a further year’s extension possible should the club exercise their option.

United’s next match is against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

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