Bruno Fernandes reveals four key reasons for staying at Man Utd after £300m offer

Manchester United were handed a major boost after Bruno Fernandes announced he had declined a huge move to Saudi Arabia this summer as the Portuguese playmaker insisted he wanted to stay at the top level

Bruno Fernandes has made his reasons clear for wanting to stay at Manchester United and snub a lucrative move to Al-Hilal this summer. The United skipper looked certain to move to Saudi Arabia after reports Al-Hilal were ready to pay a £300million package to secure his signature.

United would have collected a £100m transfer fee, with Bruno Fernandes being handed an eye-watering contract worth around £200m in a move that would see him join up with countrymen Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves.

But Fernandes released a statement on Tuesday night explaining primarily that he wants to continue playing at the highest level possible in Europe and fully believes he is capable of doing so.

“It would have been an easy move,” he said. “I had Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo there, two people I have a great friendship with. But I want to stay at the highest level, play in big competitions, because I still feel capable.”

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Another factor was Ruben Amorim wanting him to stay at Old Trafford. The coach has always maintained he did not want to let his captain leave and hoped the Portugal international would spearhead the team’s revival under his leadership.

Speaking after their post-season tour in Asia, he said: “I think he wants to stay. He is saying no to a lot of things but he chose that he wants to win. I think he’s really good and he needs to be on the best league in the world.”

United’s support of Fernandes also helped his decision. The club hierarchy were relaxed about his future either way and although they missed out on a huge payday that would have eased their financial situation, having Fernandes on board will be a huge boost to their hopes of returning to for next season.

The 30-year-old also cited his family as a major reason for him snubbing Saudi interest. He did not want to uproot his family from their settled life in Manchester and force a culture change in the Middle East. His wife Ana Pinho is said to have been crucial in the decision to stay.

Fernandes explained: “I spoke with my family to understand if that was what I wanted for my future,” Fernandes said ahead of Portugal’s Nations League semi-final against Germany tonight.

“It was actually my wife who asked me — I never said yes or no. She put my professional priorities ahead of everything else.”

Now that he has clarified his position, Amorim will hope to have him on board for his rebuild of the team that has already seen him sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves, while Bryan Mbeumo is expected to join from Brentford imminently.

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