Bruno Fernandes has questioned Manchester United’s loyalty to him in an astonishing recent interview, revealing the club wanted him to go away in the summertime but ‘didn’t have the courage’ to force him out.
The United captain was the topic of a £100million offer from Al-Hilal early this summer with the Saudi giants prepared to triple the salary he’s currently on in Manchester.
The Portugal international was set to bank around £200million over three years within the Saudi Pro League but rejected their offer to remain on at United.
Speaking after United’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on Monday night, Fernandes insisted United were eager to offload him before the season began, a choice that left him ‘hurt’ and questioning his future.
Fernandes explained he doesn’t feel ‘valued’ by the club, describing his current situation as ‘being on thin ice’ and believes United still need to move him on as a part of their latest ‘makeover’ at the tip of the present campaign.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United day by day
Get up to seek out news in your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Join to our newsletter after which select your team within the link so we will send you football news tailored to you.
‘Until you win trophies, you’re not valued as much, whatever the club and league you’re in,’ Fernandes told Canal 11. ‘I used to be valued, and what values me most needs to be my club, although recently I feel like I’m on thin ice.
‘In England, when a player starts approaching 30, they begin considering they need a makeover. It’s just like the furniture.’
Fernandes’ proposed move to Al-Hilal was well documented last summer however the midfielder was also linked with a move away from Old Trafford the previous 12 months with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain amongst the edges credited with interest through the years.
Discussing his options each last summer and the previous 12 months, Fernandes suggested there was interest from a side who he would have won ‘many trophies with’.
‘The difficulty of loyalty isn’t viewed the identical way it was. I could have left within the last transfer window, I’d have earned far more money, I used to be going to go away a season ago – I won’t say where – but I’d have won many trophies that season.
‘I made a decision to remain, also due to 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, “for those who leave, it’s not so bad for us.”
‘It hurts me a bit. Greater than hurting, it makes me sad because I’m a player who has nothing to criticise.
‘I’m at all times available, I at all times 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 is considered one of the most important earners at United but his earnings would have been dwarfed by what was on offer when Al-Hilal approached him in the summertime.
While Ruben Amorim was eager to keep him in Manchester, Fernandes didn’t feel the administrators felt the identical way – suggesting they didn’t need to clash with their manager.
He continued: ‘I can’t complain, I’m thoroughly paid, but obviously the difference is abysmal. That was never what guided me. If someday I even have to play in Saudi Arabia, I’ll play in Saudi Arabia. My lifestyle will change, my children’s lives will likely 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 individuals do and said: “I need to go away, I don’t need to train, I just want to go away for 20 or 30 million, so that they pay me more on the opposite side.” But I never did that. I never felt ready to do it, because I felt that the empathy and affection I had for the club were the identical.
‘However it gets to a degree where, for them, money is more necessary than anything. The club wanted me to go, I even have that in my head. I told the administrators that, but I feel they didn’t have the courage to make that call, since the manager wanted me. If I had said I wanted to go away, they’d have let me go.’
MORE: Olivier Giroud names two signings Chelsea need ahead of January transfer window
MORE: Michael Owen claims ‘naughty’ Bruno Fernandes conned referee in Manchester United draw vs Bournemouth
MORE: Paul Scholes claims Mikel Arteta was forced into signing Arsenal star