Man Utd midfielder Bruno Fernandes was the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia last summer.
Fernandes dropped a hint on his future.(Image: Men in Blazers via YouTube)
Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has reiterated that he feels “at home” and settled with his family in Manchester. Fernandes rejected an approach from Saudi Arabia club Al-Hilal in favour of staying at United last summer.
However, Fernandes made headlines in December when he suggested United wanted him to join Al-Hilal. The United captain also suggested the club’s board lacked the “courage” to make the decision for him.
Club sources reiterated they were clear throughout the summer that Fernandes was a key part of the future plans, pointing to his own quote from a sit-down with Manchester-based reporters in October, in which he claimed the club echoed Ruben Amorim’s desire for him to stay.
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Fernandes conducted the interview with Portuguese outlet Canal 11 at a time when United were struggling with Amorim in charge. Since then, Michael Carrick has guided the club into the Champions League places, and Fernandes has closed in on reaching the Premier League assist record.
United are set to return to Europe’s elite competition, and there is no desire for Fernandes to leave ahead of a summer transfer window in which investment will be made to strengthen the midfield.
The 31-year-old is also settled with his wife and their two young children in Manchester. “When you spend so long in a place, you kind of feel part of it, and obviously I’m very proud of my country, and I love to be there, but I feel at home in Manchester, and my kids feel at home here,” Fernandes told Men in Blazers.
“It’s wonderful for me to be in a place where my kids enjoy so much and can feel so at home as they do in Manchester. I felt Mancunian, and then I heard my kids speaking in the accent, and I understood that I’m not as much as they are.”
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In October, Fernandes said his situation at United will remain unchanged, and no talks over his future will take place until after the World Cup. “No, it will be the same situation,” he said.
“As I’ve always said, I feel good here. I want to achieve my dreams still. But obviously I can’t talk by the side of the club. I’ve seen a lot of news. I’ve seen a lot of people talking that I had an agreement to go already next season. If the club has done that agreement, it wasn’t made with me.
“So I haven’t spoken with anyone. I could tell you that there are still people talking to me and saying that they will be very eager to have me next year, of course.
“But from my side, that’s not talked about. Because my agent also knows how I work, so if he wants to talk to me, it will be after the World Cup. Because until then, I won’t speak to anyone.”
Fernandes won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for a fourth time last season, joining David de Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only other players who have won it four times.
The Portugal international has contributed eight goals and 17 assists across all competitions this term, meaning he’s in pole position to win a record-breaking fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award.
Fernandes’ contract runs until the summer of 2027, with the option of another year.