After failing in a move for Bruno Fernandes this summer, interest from Saudi Arabia is not expected to evaporate and Manchester United can expect there to be a bid for their captain in 2026.
The Portuguese midfielder is on the radar of Saudi Arabian sides as they continue to try and tempt the world’s best players to the developing league.
Al-Hilal were willing to spend extremely big on Fernandes over the summer, ready to pay Manchester United £100m for a player who turned 31 this month.
Fernandes was also set to earn a whopping £200m over three seasons with the Saudi side.
The Portugal international could not be tempted, though, turning down the opportunity of cashing in spectacularly in order to stay at Old Trafford.
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‘I spoke to coach [Ruben] Amorim and he asked me not to go. My wife asked me what I wanted to do,’ Fernandes said.
‘It would have been easy to move there as I know the Portuguese players there very well, but I want to play at the highest level and compete for major titles.’
He added: ‘Manchester United didn’t want to sell me. They don’t need the money. If I had wanted to leave, they would have made it happen.’
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports on his Here We Go podcast that Fernandes turning down the Saudi Pro League does not mean the interest has died down.
Clubs in Saudi Arabia reportedly ‘will be back’ for the midfielder and try to tempt him again after next summer’s World Cup.
Romano adds that Fernandes has only ever shown complete commitment to Manchester United and will continue to do so this season.
However, the possibility of a move to Saudi Arabia will be ‘one to watch in 2026’ for the Red Devils skipper.
Fernandes has been integral for Manchester United since he joined from Sporting in January 2020 for an initial fee of £47m, racking up 296 appearance for the club and scoring his 100th Manchester United goal on Saturday against Chelsea.
Despite being unquestionably the Red Devils’ best player since he turned up in Manchester, club legend Paul Scholes suggested earlier this year that selling him to Saudi might be the best option.
Bruno Fernandes Premier League stats
Apps: 200
Goals: 64
Assists: 51
Given the money on offer for a player of his age and the fact that Fernandes does not quite fit into Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, the former United and England star reckons a sale is too good to turn down.
‘They are talking about £100m for him. Man United cannot say no to that,’ Scholes said on The Overlap Fan Debate.
‘You know when you talk about this system as well, I know he has been brilliant and carried the team on his back but where does he play? What is his position? Do you see him as a number 10? Do you see him as a holding midfielder?
‘He almost confuses the whole system because he doesn’t have that one position for him. I mean he has been brilliant don’t get me wrong. But when you’re getting £100m for him you snap their hand off and take it.’
