4 days Ago
The English side are believed to be happy with how the situation has played out, especially after some comments from Ruben Amorim recently in which he seemed convinced Fernandes would be staying at the club. Although no official offer had gone to Manchester United, Al-Hilal were reportedly prepared to pay in the region of £80m-£100m to land the 30-year-old and had hoped they could secure his signature in time for this month’s Club World Cup.
Loyalty over money
Despite the lucrative opportunity, Fernandes has preferred to stay loyal to United. He is expected to address the situation publicly in a pre-match press conference on Portugal’s Nations League semi-final in Germany.
Fernandes, who arrived from Sporting in January 2020 for £47 million with €20 million in add-ons, has made 290 appearances, scoring 98 goals, for United. He is still one of the highest earners at the club.
On Fernandes’ decision, a former United player said it was a strong demonstration of loyalty. He added that the fact Fernandes was prepared to turn down a massive offer to stay on at the club during a tough time shows his strong character. The move is likely to deepen his connection with the club’s fans even more.
An unknown fate for Al-Hilal’s market moves
It is not yet clear, though, if Al-Hilal will now turn their attentions elsewhere in the transfer market. After having their advances for Fernandes rebuffed, however, the Saudi outfit could also be forced to look elsewhere as they prepare for future competitions. Fernandes’ desire is meanwhile seen as a fillip to Manchester United’s hopes as they look to rebuild and get up to speed.
