Reports indicate that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has received a very lucrative contract offer from the Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal initially contacted the United skipper last year, prior to him signing his current contract at Old Trafford, which is valid until 2027.
However, the Saudi club has reportedly renewed their pursuit of Fernandes and has submitted a concrete financial offer.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Al-Hilal is prepared to offer Fernandes an astonishing £65 million annual salary as part of a three-year contract.
As of now, Fernandes has not responded, and Manchester United`s stance is that they do not wish to sell their key player.
Nevertheless, the wealthy Saudi club intends to challenge United`s resolve, especially considering the Red Devils` need to generate funds for incoming transfers.
Reports suggest Al-Hilal could potentially break the British transfer fee record of £115 million, set when Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo from Brighton in 2023.
The club based in Riyadh is expected to embark on significant spending this summer, possessing substantial financial resources.
They had reportedly allocated £510 million for transfer fees and wages to sign Mo Salah last year, but he ultimately chose to stay at Liverpool.
Sources indicate Al-Hilal is aiming to secure a high-profile signing before the Club World Cup commences on June 15.
Nevertheless, a potential transfer for Fernandes could be complicated because Ruben Amorim is said to be determined to retain the Portuguese player. When questioned about interest from clubs like Real Madrid in March, the Manchester United manager reportedly stated:
“No, it won`t happen. He is staying here as I`ve already informed him. We want Bruno to remain part of our squad because our aim is to win the Premier League again, and for that, we need our best players to stay. Although he`s 30, he`s still very much in his prime, consistently playing around 55 matches each season. He contributes at least 30 goals or assists annually, making him the kind of player essential to our team, and he is not for sale.”
Marcus Bellamy