Bruno Fernandes rejects 'big' Al-Hilal offer to stay with Manchester United
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to join Saudi Pro League 's Al-Hilal and stay with the struggling club, which finished 15th in the Premier League in the 2024-25 season.
The Portuguese midfielder was reportedly offered a salary that would have been nearly tripled his current salary with Manchester United. According to several British media outlets, the offered deal was said to be in the region of £80 million-£100 million (US$108 million-US$135 million).
The 30-year-old captain was the lone bright spark for United in a dismal season. He scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for the club last season, and was named the club's Player of the Year for the fourth time.
Ahead of Portugal's Nation League semifinal match against Germany, the 30-year-old confirmed the talks and said he decided to stay back to play at a 'higher level' after discussions with United coach Ruben Amorim and his family.
'There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,' Fernandes said.
'It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.
'I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so. I spoke to the coach, 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.'
Al-Hilal has not made any statement on the deal.
Former United star Rio Ferdinand said on his podcast that the news of Fernandes staying was 'the biggest news for me today, I've got to be honest.'
Another former United star, Gary Neville, told Sky Sports that a transfer would not have been a bad deal, financially, for the club, but added: 'He's so important. The fact that he wants to stay, the fact that he wants to go through this and come out the other side – because it would have been easy for him at the end of this season to say, 'Look, I'm done here' – will endear him towards Manchester United fans even more.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
TV art guru jailed for 2.5 years for deals with suspected Hezbollah financier
An art expert who appeared on a BBC auction show was jailed for two-and-a-half years on Friday after a series of deals with a suspected Hezbollah financier. Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, also known as Ochuko, sold artwork worth around £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, a man designated by US authorities for alleged laundering for the Lebanese group. A regular on the Bargain Hunt programme, Ojiri was arrested two years ago by officers from the UK's National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit. The investigation centred on alleged terrorist financing and money laundering by Mr Ahmad, an art collector and diamond dealer. Mr Ahmad, 60, a dual Belgian- Lebanese citizen, is under sanction s by Britain and the US. He has been accused of using the UK's fine art market to run an international financing operation for Hezbollah which is proscribed in the UK as a terrorist organisation. The art dealer's connection to the investigation into Mr Ahmad was first revealed by The National on Thursday, when he was charged. Ojiri is known for his appearances on the BBC's Bargain Hunt and has also appeared on the BBC's Antiques Road Trip. Ojiri had admitted to eight charges of failing to disclose his dealings with Mr Ahmad, which took place between October 2020 and December 2021, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000. Prosecutor Lyndon Harris told the court hearing in May that Ojiri 'engaged in sales of artwork to Nazem Ahmad, a suspected terrorist financier'. Following the introduction of new money laundering regulations in January 2020 that brought the art market under the supervision of UK Customs, Ojiri is said to have discussed the changes with a colleague, indicating awareness of the rules, he told the court. 'At the time of the transactions, Ojiri knew Mr Ahmad had been sanctioned in the US,' Mr Harris said. 'He accessed news reports about Mr Ahmad and engaged in conversations with others about that, which indicates that he had information about Mr Ahmad.' Mr Ahmad was first accused by the US Treasury in 2019 of laundering substantial amounts of money and being involved in the smuggling of 'blood diamonds' for Hezbollah. He was sanctioned, then in April 2024 charged by the US along with eight associates with offences relating to breaching sanctions regulations. Police swooped on the high-security depot near London's Heathrow Airport in 2024, taking away nearly two dozen works of art belonging to Mr Ahmad, which they believe would probably have funded Hezbollah.
Dubai Eye
2 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Tottenham sack manager Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham Hotspur have sacked manager Ange Postecoglou, the club said on Friday, despite the Australian guiding the club to their first major trophy in 17 years with victory in the Europa League final last month. Postecoglou will leave two years to the day after his appointment. Spurs beat Manchester United in Bilbao to win the Europa League and book their place in next season's Champions League, but a dismal domestic campaign ultimately cost Postecoglou his job. "The Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place," Spurs said in a statement. "Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. "At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club's greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph." Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League last season, fuelling pressure on the 59-year-old in his second year at the helm.
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Morocco: His Majesty (HM) the King Congratulates Sweden's Sovereigns on National Day
His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a congratulatory message to Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, Sovereigns of Sweden, on the occasion of their country's national day. In this message, His Majesty the King extends His warmest congratulations and sincere wishes for good health and happiness to the Swedish sovereigns, and members of their esteemed royal family, and for continued progress and prosperity to the Swedish people. "We look forward, in the Kingdom of Morocco, to seeing our relationship further strengthened and expanded, for the mutual benefit of our peoples," the Sovereign writes. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
