‘Cristiano had his opinion’ - Man United captain reveals Ronaldo’s advice on Saudi Arabia move

Fernandes was approached by Saudi Arabian clubs during the summer transfer window and was offered massive deals.

The midfielder disclosed that he considered a lucrative £100 million transfer to Saudi Arabia last summer but ultimately decided to stay at Old Trafford.

The offer from Al-Hilal was substantial, not just for the club but also on a personal level, promising life-changing terms for a player already earning close to £300,000 per week.

The 31-year-old playmaker opened up about his failed move to Saudi Arabia, having gotten advice from friends.

Fernandes revealed that he sought advice from his close friend and compatriot, Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. 

"I spoke with Cristiano about the situation, about Saudi and everything," he said, as reported by Daily Mail. "Cristiano had his opinion on what I should do and it was important for me to hear what he thought."

While Al-Hilal's offer was the most concrete, Fernandes mentioned that other European clubs had also expressed interest, although no formal bids had been made. 

Despite turning down the move, Fernandes left the door ajar for a future transfer, admitting he is unsure what the end of the season will bring.

"I don't know," he conceded. "I don't think they were very happy for me to reject the offer, obviously. I accept that, because the offer was very good in terms of salary."

Since he arrived from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 for a fee potentially rising to £68 million, Fernandes has been a standout performer in the post-Ferguson era. 

The Portuguese midfielder is approaching 300 appearances for the club, boasting an impressive record of 100 goals and 87 assists.