Bruno Fernandes disagreement and character claim before Man Utd bombshell

Bruno Fernandes is reportedly open to leaving Manchester Unitednext summer despite turning down a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League. The Red Devils captain was heavily linked with a move to Al-Hilalthis summer, with the Saudi giants considering a £100million bid and a £700,000-a-week pay package for the Portugal international.

Fernandes, who joined the Red Devils in January 2020, also turned down an approach from another Saudi team in Al-Ittihad, who held talks with Fernandes' representatives. But the 30-year-old midfielder rejected a three-year deal to stay in Manchester, prioritising playing in the Premier League ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

But the Middle-Eastern giants remain intent on signing him. And, according to talkSPORT, Fernandes is open to making the move to Saudi, America or another major European league at the end of this season, when he will have just a year left on his United contract.

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United may use the opportunity to cash in on their ageing star, having just forked out £130m on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to play in Fernandes' favoured No. 10 role.

After leading United to their worst-ever Premier League finish last term, Fernandes told Sky Sports: "I haven't fulfilled my dreams here yet. I think I can still give something to the club. I think I'm still in a position where I'm helpful so the thing for me is that I will be here until the club decides that 'Bruno, it's time to go'.

"I know for the club it was tough to decide. Because on one hand I'm the club captain, I'm important for them, even if at times I've not been great, I've been performing and everything. I know that in the public eye it will be bad if things go wrong.

"But it would be very good if things go well – if they sell me and they get more players and whatever. But in my mind I've always said that this is the place I want to be.

"The dream of coming and playing in the Premier League, because for me it is the biggest league in the world and I want to fulfil my dreams of staying here and winning more things with the club. Obviously I know people will have different opinions – he's 30 years old, he's getting old…”

He continued: "It was a very ambitious proposal. The president was a fantastic person. We never discussed the amount [initially]. With my agent? Of course. Then, I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.

"She was someone who always supported me a lot. It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Joao 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."

United legend Gary Neville was vocal in his praise for Fernandes following his decision to turn down a pay rise to represent the club once more. The pundit said: “Manchester United's star player - only player at times - for the last four, five, six years, has been Bruno Fernandes.

"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, will endear him towards Manchester United fans even more.

"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."

Neville’s former team-mate Paul Scholes had a different view, however, believing the club should have cashed in on the player because the sum offered for him was too great. The 11-time Premier League champion said on : “They are talking about £100m for him. Man United cannot say no to that.

“You know when you talk about this system as well, I know he has been brilliant and carried the team on his back but where does he play? What is his position? Do you see him as a number 10? Do you see him as a holding midfielder?

“He almost confuses the whole system because he doesn’t have that one position for him. I mean he has been brilliant don’t get me wrong. But when you’re getting £100m for him you snap their hand off and take it.”

Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, shared Neville’s view and heaped praise on Fernandes, believing his decision to stay was born out of loyalty. "The one thing it says to me, there's a loyalty. And I think that word gets bandied about quite a lot, but we don't really see it often from the club's point of view and the players," Ferdinand told Mirror Football.

"I understand it's a business. But I think he looks at this as pure, 'I've got unfinished business at United. There's stuff I want to do here. Yes, I've been paid well here. The fans love me.' But I think he's in the game of wanting to give back after all he's received. So I've got nothing but respect for him.

“I would have understood him leaving if he left, 100%. But the fact that he stayed and said there's stuff for me still to do here. I think it's a testament to him as a person, but also another reason why managers comfortably give him the armband.

"If I was him, I think I'd have found it difficult to say no [to Al Hilal]. I've got to be honest." However, after rejecting Saudi advances in the summer, Fernandes could well leave United at the end of the season, which would no doubt upset some club legends if their previous comments are anything to go by.

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