BRUNO FERNANDES has given his verdict on the rumours that he could be set for a transfer to the Saudi Pro League this summer.
The midfielder knocked back approaches from Al Hilal and Al Ittihad in the last summer window.
It didn’t take long for the rumour mill to kick up again, with some suggesting that the Portuguese star would circle back to a lucrative move to the middle east after the 2026 World Cup.
SunSport sources close to Fernandes rubbished those rumours, and insisted that the Red Devils’ captain is committed to the project under Ruben Amorim.
Speaking on international duty, ahead of Portugal’s World Cup Qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, Fernandes seemed to confirm his comfort at the club, and opened up on his reasoning for snubbing a summer move.
He said: “I didn’t close the door on moving to Saudi Arabia because of the World Cup”
“That was never in my mind. I wanted to stay at Manchester United, and the club wanted me to stay.
“That’s all there is to it.”
When asked about potentially revisiting the prospect of a move next summer, the 31-year-old said he was content at Old Trafford, but suggested that he cannot be completely sure what the future holds.
“That’s an impossible scenario to imagine,” he continued. “Because it’s nothing that’s been discussed with me.
“I like to enjoy the moment, and the most important thing for me now is representing the national team.
“It’s a source of enormous pride to be able to play [Saturday], and I still don’t know if I’ll play, let alone if I’ll leave Manchester United in a year.
“I’m happy where I am – otherwise, I wouldn’t have stayed, but it’s something that doesn’t affect me.”
The midfielder has struggled so far this season to reach the heights that he has in recent years.
He has not managed to slot neatly into a single role in Amorim’s system, and his lack of comfort has translated to a lower output, and can be felt in the Red Devils’ league position.
If the club were interested in securing a hefty fee for the creative attacker, now might be the time to cash in, with his contract set to expire at the end of next season.
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