Bruno Fernandes has been strongly linked with a move away from Manchester United this summer and it appears that his future has taken a fresh turn amid interest from Saudi Arabia
Bruno Fernandes has moved a step closer to a Manchester United exit with Saudi talks stretching late into the night. The Portuguese midfielder has been linked with a move to the Middle East in the aftermath of the Red Devils’ woeful season.
United ended up finishing 15th in the Premier League, while they also lost the Europa League final to Tottenham. Al-Hilal are among the Saudi sides interested in a deal for Fernandes, who they see as a marquee signing ahead of next season.
And it appears their chances of signing the playmaker have been improved with the latest developments. According to Mail Online, Fernandes’ representative Miguel Pinho held lengthy talks with Al-Hilal to understand the project on offer.
He met with club officials at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, with ‘positive’ talks stretching late into the night. Saudi sources have reportedly told Fernandes that the offer is a one-time opportunity.
They have offered to raise his wages to an eye-watering £700k per week, while he could earn around £200m over the duration of a three-year deal. And they would also be willing to pay United £100m to prise away their captain.
It is suggested that Al-Hilal officials have given Fernandes a 72-hour deadline to mull over the offer having expressed their desire to formalise a deal before this summer’s Club World Cup.
Speaking after the Europa League defeat, Fernandes said: "If the club thinks it's time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it's what it is. Football sometimes is like this. I've always said I will be here until the club says to me that it's time to go.
"I'm eager to do more, to be able to bring the club to the great days. The day that the club thinks that I'm too much or it's time to part ways, football is like this, you never know it. But I've always said it and I keep my word in the same way."
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Ruben Amorim has also offered an update on his captain’s future. He said: "It’s important for Bruno to see that we are changing a lot of things in our club. The behaviour, the everyday organisation, the pace of training. All these things, if he sees that we are doing that across all levels, he will want to stay at this club. He loves this club.
"That is the most important thing - not the Champions League. He wants to win with this club and he trains and behaves at a high level. Everybody here needs to do that - he will be here for that."
Amorim has regularly confirmed his desire to keep Fernandes at the club. The 30-year-old has just over two years remaining on his contract at Old Trafford.