Bruno Fernandes: 3 Reasons Why Portuguese Midfielder Refused £100m Move to Al-Hilal

Bruno Fernandes rejects £100m Al-Hilal move, choosing loyalty to Manchester United, family stability, and belief in club's future.

Bruno Fernandes has turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal, rejecting a move that could have more than doubled his salary and seen Manchester United receive a transfer fee in the region of £80 million to £100 million.

The 30-year-old Portugal international has opted to remain at Old Trafford, despite the Red Devils enduring one of their most difficult seasons in recent memory.

After days of serious consideration and discussions with his family, Fernandes made the decision to stay in Manchester. This comes as a significant relief to United, who never received an official bid from Al-Hilal, but were aware of the Saudi club’s interest in securing the midfielder in time for this month's FIFA Club World Cup.

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3. Loyalty and Leadership: “The fact that he wants to stay...”

Former United right-back Gary Neville, speaking to Sky Sports, weighed in on the development and praised Fernandes' decision to remain at the club.

“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,” Neville said as per BBC.

“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.”

That kind of attitude has cemented Fernandes as a leader at the club. Since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 for £47 million, Fernandes has not only been one of United’s most consistent performers but also one of its loudest voices on and off the pitch. With 98 goals and 290 appearances, his influence is undeniable.

2. Family First: Decision Made at Home

Despite the eye-watering offer from Al-Hilal, the final decision came after long conversations with his family.

For Fernandes, the prospect of relocating to Saudi Arabia did not outweigh the comfort, stability, and familiarity he and his loved ones currently enjoy in England.

The importance of family has been a consistent theme throughout his career, and this decision reaffirmed his commitment not just to United, but to his personal values.

1. Belief in the Project: United’s Quiet Confidence

Although no formal negotiations took place between Manchester United and Al-Hilal, the Saudi side was believed to be confident in their ability to land Fernandes.

Yet internally, United maintained quiet optimism that their playmaker would stay. That belief was echoed by Portugal head coach Ruben Amorim last Friday, when he publicly said he expected Fernandes to remain at Old Trafford.

The timing of the decision is also significant. Fernandes is set to address the media on Tuesday ahead of Portugal's Nations League semi-final clash on Wednesday in Germany.

It is expected he will be questioned about the move, giving him a chance to reiterate his commitment on the international stage.