Latest news with #JoaoCancelo
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fernandes opens up on decision to snub Saudi move
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has opened up on his decision to turn down a transfer to the Saudi Pro League. Al-Hilal made an approach to sign Fernandes with the Saudi side offering the midfielder a lucrative contract. Fernandes was targeted as a marquee arrival ahead of this summer's Club World Cup, with Al-Hilal prepared to offer a fee in the region of £100m for the Portugal international. The 30-year-old rejected the move, however, insisting he wants to continue playing at the 'highest level'. Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 20 assists despite a difficult campaign for Manchester United, who missed out on European qualification. Advertisement The midfielder has now opened up on his decision to reject the move, insisting that football factors outweighed the financial reward. He admitted it would have been 'easy' to join Al-Hilal, given the lucrative proposal and presence of Portugal teammates Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves at the club. 'There was an opportunity,' Fernandes said at a Portugal press conference ahead of their Nations League semi-final with Germany on Wednesday. 'The [Al-Hilal] president called me and asked if I wanted to go there. They were waiting for me. I spoke to coach [Ruben] Amorim. He asked me not to go. 'Manchester United didn't want to sell me. They don't need the money. If I had wanted to leave, they would have made it happen. Advertisement 'It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had João Cancelo there, my children are used to playing with him in the national team. We have a great friendship. 'But I want to maintain myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it.' Read – The Premier League transfer stories to watch this week See more – The most expensive transfers in Saudi Pro League history Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Fernandes snubs Al Hilal's £100m offer, stays at Man United to play at ‘highest level'
MUNICH, June 4 — Bruno Fernandes confirmed Tuesday he rejected a huge offer from Saudi Arabia to stay at Manchester United, saying he wanted to 'continue to play at the highest level'. Speaking to media in a Portugal camp ahead of Wednesday's Nations League semi-final against Germany in Munich, Fernandes confirmed he received an 'exciting offer' from Al Hilal but wanted to be part of Ruben Amorim's rebuild at Old Trafford. Reports said Al Hilal were willing to pay United up to £100 million (RM574 million) for the 30-year-old Portugal international. 'The president of Al Hilal called me and asked me if I wanted to move there,' Fernandes confirmed, saying the club 'waited for me to think about my future'. 'I talked to the gaffer and he asked me not to go,' Fernandes revealed, adding: 'Man United said they didn't want to sell me. 'They said if I wanted to go I could but they didn't need the money.' The player said a transfer would have been 'easy' with several Portuguese players already in Saudi Arabia, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves, but added: 'I want to play at the highest possible level. 'I want to play major competitions. I know I still can and I want to be happy doing the thing I love the most. 'For better or worse, this is how I see football and I'm passionate about football and this is the decision I've made.' United endured their worst finish of the Premier League era, finishing 15th. They also lost the Europa League final to Tottenham. United captain Fernandes was one of the few players to emerge with credit from a disastrous season, scoring 19 goals and making 19 assists across all competitions. Former United captain Gary Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, said the development was 'significant'. 'I think that there was an element of this situation that meant United getting that level of money, for someone of Bruno's age, obviously, you couldn't say that it would have been a bad deal,' he said. 'But, on the other hand, Manchester United's star player — only player at times — for the last four, five, six years, has been Bruno Fernandes. He's so important.' Neville added: 'To turn that money down at a point where Manchester United are at their lowest ebb and say, 'No, I want to fight through this, I want to see it through the other side, I want to come out and achieve things,' I think it says a lot about him as a person, as a character. 'The club needs people who are going to run through a brick wall for them.' United are expected to be busy in the transfer market as Amorim reshapes his under-performing squad. The club have already signed Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are being heavily linked with Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo. Departures could include Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho. Fernandes has made 290 appearances and scored 98 goals for United since his £47 million move from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020. — AFP
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Man Utd's Fernandes confirms he has rejected Saudi Pro League move
Bruno Fernandes has confirmed he rejected a huge offer from Saudi Arabia and chose instead to stay at Manchester United, saying he wanted to 'continue to play at the highest level'. Speaking to media in a Portugal camp ahead of Wednesday's Nations League semifinal against Germany in Munich, the football midfielder confirmed he received an 'exciting offer' from Al-Hilal but wanted to be part of manager Ruben Amorim's rebuild at Old Trafford. Reports said Al-Hilal were willing to pay United up to 100 million British pounds ($135m) for the 30-year-old Portugal international. 'The president of Al-Hilal called me and asked me if I wanted to move there,' Fernandes confirmed, saying the club 'waited for me to think about my future'. 'I talked to the gaffer and he asked me not to go,' Fernandes revealed, adding: 'Man United said they didn't want to sell me. 'They said if I wanted to go, I could, but they didn't need the money.' The player said a transfer would have been 'easy' with several Portuguese players already in Saudi Arabia, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves, but added: 'I want to play at the highest possible level. 'I want to play major competitions. I know I still can, and I want to be happy doing the thing I love the most. 'For better or worse, this is how I see football and I'm passionate about football and this is the decision I've made.' United endured their worst finish of the Premier League era, finishing 15th. They also lost the Europa League final to Tottenham. United captain Fernandes was one of the few players to emerge with credit from a disastrous season, scoring 19 goals and making 19 assists across all competitions. Former United captain Gary Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, said the development was 'significant'. 'I think that there was an element of this situation that meant United getting that level of money, for someone of Bruno's age, obviously, you couldn't say that it would have been a bad deal,' he said. 'But, on the other hand, Manchester United's star player – only player, at times – for the last four, five, six years, has been Bruno Fernandes. He's so important.' Neville added: 'To turn that money down at a point where Manchester United are at their lowest ebb and say, 'No, I want to fight through this, I want to see it through the other side, I want to come out and achieve things,' I think it says a lot about him as a person, as a character. 'The club needs people who are going to run through a brick wall for them.' United are expected to be busy in the transfer market as Amorim reshapes his under-performing squad. The club have already signed Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are being heavily linked with Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo. Departures could include Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho. Fernandes has made 290 appearances and scored 98 goals for United since his 47 million pounds ($63m) move from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Bruno Fernandes enjoys dinner with Al-Hilal ‘secret agent' Joao Cancelo as he faces Man Utd exit decision
FANS reckon Bruno Fernandes is "leaving breadcrumbs" as clues after the Manchester United skipper dined with Al-Hilal "secret agent" Joao Cancelo. Fernandes ' agent has already held "productive" talks with the Saudis as they press for a £100million transfer. 6 6 6 6 And now the Red Devils ' star midfielder, 30, has met with Al-Hilal 's former Manchester City full-back Cancelo. A clip of the Portugal pals at a group meal in a restaurant, has sent speculation soaring that a deal could be sorted within days. Cancelo was 31 last Tuesday - and a birthday cake with blazing candles was presented to him at the eatery. An X account for Al-Hilal fans shared a video from the meal - and cheekily suggested Cancelo was trying to talk the Red Devils hero into moving. The post read: " Bruno Fernandes with Cancelo today... Can Cancelo do it? " One fan responded: "Yes, it's his Portugal teammate but given all the rumours and all the speculation about his future this can't be a pure coincidence. "Of course they discussed his possible move to Al-Hilal. Bruno is leaving breadcrumbs for us. First the quote yesterday now this." That "quote" is thought to be a mysterious message Fernandes posted on his Instagram story. 6 Its English translation was: "If you tried and failed, congratulations! There are people who don't even try." Some fans believe "in the context" of Al-Hilal's interest, those words means Fernandes WILL be leaving Old Trafford. 'Players are not acting in the right manner' - David Beckham slams Man Utd stars' behaviour after fans clashes on tour But nothing is certain yet. And when the dining clip went up on social media, a few observers warned against reading too much into it. One wrote: "Friends go out for dinner together." And another added: "They are international teammates enjoying off season." A third posted: "So this video could mean nothing or it could be everything." And although some viewers pointed out it was Cancelo's birthday week, they also felt it was inevitable a Fernandes transfer was one topic. Such verdicts included: "One can be certain that Bruno considering Al Hilal's offer means talking to all his Portuguese buddies in Saudi to assess opinions on things like the standard of the game, his support system if he goes there etc. " 6
Egypt Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Egypt Today
Cancelo ruled out of Al-Hilal's Asian Champions League semi with Al-Ahli
JEDDAH (Reuters) -Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus has ruled Joao Cancelo out of the remainder of his side's Asian Champions League Elite campaign with a hamstring injury ahead of their all-Saudi Pro League semi-final against Al-Ahli in Jeddah on Tuesday. The former Manchester City and Barcelona defender limped off 42 minutes into Al-Ahli's 7-0 thrashing of South Korea's Gwangju on Friday and Jesus confirmed the 30-year-old would play no further part in the continental championship. "The only negative part of an excellent night was the injury to Joao Cancelo," said Jesus. "He's one of the players who is very important for the team for his attacking ability. Al-Hilal remain on track for a record-extending fifth Asian title but face a difficult challenge against an Al-Ahli side that is the only undefeated team left in the competition. The clubs have already met three times this season in domestic competition, with Al-Ahli winning the most recent encounter in the Saudi Pro League thanks to a hat-trick by England striker Ivan Toney. That win was coach Matthias Jaissle's first against Al-Hilal in five attempts and the German is confident his side can repeat the feat. "It helps definitely to know, to feel that we are capable to win against Al-Hilal," said Jaissle. "We've played against Al-Hilal so often and they have huge quality in their squad, but we're well prepared. We know exactly what will come tomorrow, there will be no surprises on the pitch. Details will be decisive." The semi-final will be played at Al-Ahli's home at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Jaissle is hoping the support of the local fans will be a factor in deciding the outcome. "The results in the matches since the competition started show clearly that this competition fits us," he said. "But we didn't achieve anything so far. "Everything has to fit together, all the details in all phases of the game. Then you need sometimes a bit of luck and the extra energy of the fans."
