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- 14 minutes ago
Bruno Fernandes BOMBSHELL: 'Man Utd wanted me to leave this summer'
Cameron Smith
- 16 Dec 2025 10:52 GMT
- 5 min read
News
Bruno Fernandes has confirmed that Manchester United wanted him to leave the club this summer.
The Red Devils captain was heavily linked with an exit during the 2025 summer transfer window, amid significant interest from the Saudi Pro League, but he eventually opted to reject the chance to join Al-Hilal in favour of remaining at Man Utd.
Current ETV
Bruno Fernandes
AM, M, DM (C)
Man Utd
Bruno Fernandes
AM, M, DM (C)
Man Utd
ETV Range
€32.8M - €40.1M
The Portugal international has now revealed that the Old Trafford hierarchy were eager for him to depart this summer in a bombshell interview.
“Until you win trophies, you're not valued as much, regardless of the club and league you're in. I was valued, and what values me most has to be my club, although lately I feel like I'm on thin ice,” Fernandes admitted to Canal 11 (as relayed by Portuguese outlet MaisFutebol).
“In England, when a player starts approaching 30, they start thinking they need a makeover. It's like the furniture.
“The issue of loyalty isn’t viewed the same way it used to be. I could have left in the last transfer window, I would have earned much more money, I was going to leave a season ago – I won’t say where – but I would have won many trophies that season.
“I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely love 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.’
“It hurts me a bit. More than hurting, it makes me sad because I’m a player who has nothing to criticize. I’m always available, I always play, good or bad. I give my all. Then, you see things around you, players who don’t value the club as much and don’t defend the club as much… that makes you sad.”
Fernandes continued: “The person who spoke to me was the president of Al-Hilal, who called me directly. Ruben Neves sent me a message saying he wanted to talk to me. They wanted me to play in the Club World Cup with Al-Hilal. It was already a love that came from the Jorge Jesus era, he had already called me in 2023.
“I can’t complain, I’m very well paid, but obviously the difference is abysmal. That was never what guided me. If one day I have to play in Saudi Arabia, I’ll play in Saudi Arabia. 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 renowned players.
“I could have left like many people do and said: ‘I want to leave, I don’t want to train, I just want to leave for €20 or 30 million, so they pay me more on the other side.’ But I never did that. I never felt in a position to do it, because I felt that the empathy and affection I had for the club were the same.
“But it gets to a point where, for them, money is more important than anything. The club wanted me to go, I have that in my head. I told the directors that, but I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision, because the manager wanted me.
“If I had said I wanted to leave, they would have let me go,” Fernandes concluded.
STATS
Bruno Fernandes
AM, M, DM (C)
Man Utd
Bruno Fernandes
AM, M, DM (C)
Man Utd
Will Bruno Fernandes leave Man Utd in 2026?
Although Man Utd were eager for Fernandes to leave this summer, he remains a crucial member of Ruben Amorim’s side and he has started all 16 of their Premier League matches so far this season, registering 12 goal contributions.
But, his current deal at Old Trafford is due to expire in 2027 and he has been tipped to leave the club after next summer’s World Cup.
Bayern Munich have reportedly earmarked the Man Utd captain as a possible target for next year, although Saudi Arabia appears to remain his most likely destination as things stands.
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