Manchester United Captain Bruno Fernandes Rejects Al-Hilal Offer

Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes, turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he announced.

The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.

“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal in the UEFA Nations League, told reporters.

“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”

Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at Manchester United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.

“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.

“I spoke to my wife and family and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career. It would have been easy to move there.”

“But I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision,” he said.

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Fernandes, 30, scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.

However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century and lost the UEFA Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.