Bruno Fernandes' decision to leave after manager exit left team underperforming

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Bruno Fernandes has been offered the opportunity to escape Manchester United this summer in favour of the Saudi Pro League, with his potential departure reminiscent of his time in Serie A
Bruno Fernandes once quit his former club Udinese because they were underperforming - a move that mirrors his current situation at Manchester United. The Portuguese international has reportedly become a top target for Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal ahead of the summer transfer window.
Despite being under contract until the summer of 2026, Fernandes ' agent recently met with Al-Hilal officials at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, where there were positive talks between the two parties stretching late into the night.
‌
The Saudi club are understood to have made the United captain a lucrative offer. Yet, they reportedly informed him that it is a one-time opportunity as they look to sign him within the next fortnight so he is eligible to play at the Club World Cup.
‌
Reports also state the 30-year-old is seriously considering leaving Old Trafford in a staggering £100million transfer after a dismal season under head coach Ruben Amorim, where United endured their worst ever Premier League finish.
While it is still not clear whether Fernandes will part ways this summer, he once left Serie A side Udinese for similar reasons. The playmaker moved to Italy aged 17 and spent five years in Italy, initially at Novara before a move to Udinese in 2013.
But after an impressive first season with the side, his manager Francesco Guidolin decided to step back from coaching, which played a key role in Fernandes leaving for Sampdoria in 2016. In a stark parallel to his time at United, Fernandes recalled that Udinese team having quality players but not being able to produce what was expected of them.
‌
He said in an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio via Get Italian Football News: 'The three years I spent at Udinese were not easy in terms of the team because we didn't have great campaigns, except for the first one where we had a great squad. We had a strong team, but we weren't able to achieve what was expected of us.
'Then in the second and third year they decided to change manager after so long with Guidolin, and it didn't go very well. Guidolin had managed to get the most of my abilities, and made me understand that I had to train more, but he had faith in me.'
‌
Fernandes, who joined United in January 2020 from Sporting CP, made the emotional admission years later that his time in Italy left him wanting to quit football altogether. It was there, whilst playing for Udinese, that he got extremely homesick and lonely, which forced him to reconsider his career path.
Discussing his time in Serie A, he told the Players' Tribune: "I was all on my own at 17 in a new country. I didn't speak the language, and I didn't know anyone, and let me tell you, it was hard. It was unbelievably hard and lonely. There were times when I wanted to quit, absolutely."
Fernandes revealed it was his father who instilled a mentality in him to constantly strive for improvement, and admitted he would not have "survived" playing in Italy were it not for that attitude.
‌
After a season at Sampdoria, Fernandes returned to his homeland for Sporting, where he thrived before United came calling. He has comfortably been the Red Devils' best performer since then, winning their Player of the Season award four times, including this campaign.
Old Trafford chiefs are understood to be relaxed about his current situation, wanting to keep their talisman while still being prepared to entertain bids for any player. The club's failure to secure Champions League football by losing the Europa League final has only heightened their need to sell players in order to rebuild the squad while still complying with Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability Rules.