‘It Hurts Me a Lot’ - Bruno Fernandes Drops Manchester United Transfer Bombshell

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has lifted the lid on the reported interest in him from Saudi Arabia, claiming the club tried to push him out.

Bruno Fernandes has revealed he felt Manchester United were open to selling him during the summer transfer window, despite the club's public insistence that he remains a cornerstone of their future plans.

The United captain was the subject of a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, which he ultimately rejected. While no formal bid was ever made to the club, the proposal presented a significant financial package to the player.

In a recent interview with Portuguese media outlet Canal 11, Fernandes appeared to contradict his previous statements, suggesting the club's hierarchy was not entirely against his departure.

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"The club wanted me to go, I have that in my head," Fernandes stated. "I told the directors this, but I think they didn't have the courage to make that decision. I decided to stay."

Fernandes ‘Hurt’ By Man United Treatment

He added: "It was also for family reasons, but I genuinely like the club. The conversation with the manager also made me stay. But, from the club's side, I felt a bit like, 'If you leave, it's not so bad for us'."

The midfielder expressed his disappointment with the club's perceived attitude. "It hurts me a lot. More than hurting, it makes me sad because I'm a player who they have nothing to criticise about. I'm always available, and I always play—good or bad—I give my all."

These comments contrast with an interview Fernandes gave to the Manchester Evening News in October, where he claimed both the manager and the club had made it clear they wanted him to stay. United sources have since reiterated this position, pointing to his earlier quotes as evidence of their commitment to him.

In that October discussion, Fernandes had said: "The manager spoke with me. He said I was still part of the project. He wanted me to stay. The club said the same."

What Did Red Devils Skipper Say Before?

He explained that he had conversations with new club executives Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox about the situation. "I had a conversation with Omar and I told him, 'look, this is what is on the table... I just want to know from your perspective, what you guys want to do'."

According to Fernandes, the response from the leadership was that while the offer was significant, their preference was for him to remain at Old Trafford. "Jason said, like Omar said, 'we won't say no. But obviously, it's the thing that we want you to stay at the club. But if you want to go, we won't say that it's not the offer for us, because obviously it's massive money'."

The captain also confirmed that the manager's desire to build a stronger team around him was a key factor in his decision. "The manager said to me, 'no, we want more players to help you to become a better team. So we don’t want you to go'." "If one day I have to play in Saudi Arabia, I'll play in Saudi Arabia," he further said. "My lifestyle will change, my children’s lives will be sunny, after six years in Manchester with cold and rain, I’ll be playing in a growing league, with recognised players.”

Fernandes' contract with Manchester United runs until 2027, with the club holding an option to extend it by an additional year.