Bruno Fernandes’ feelings towards Saudi emerge hours after Man Utd takeover news

Bruno Fernandes has been linked with a move away from Manchester United to Saudi Arabia over the past year, but the Portugal international is said to have no intention of leaving the club still

Bruno Fernandes has no plans to leave Manchester United for Saudi Arabia, despite tempting offers from Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad last summer. The United captain is committed to remaining a pivotal part of Ruben Amorim’s rebuilding project at Old Trafford.

Despite recent rumours suggesting the 31-year-old may seek a move away from United after next year’s World Cup, insiders close to Fernandes have told the BBC that this isn’t the case. Fernandes’ current contract runs until 2027, with an option to extend for another year.

As for his future, it’s understood that Fernandes would only consider playing for teams in major European leagues. The hope is United fit that bracket for next season, should they turn things around and secure Champions League football, reports the Manchester Evening News.

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However, that’s a tall order at the moment. Amorim has found it tough to change United’s fortunes since taking over from Erik ten Hag last November, managing only a 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Currently, United are sitting 10th in the league table with three wins, three losses and a draw from their first seven matches. Add to that a humiliating Carabao Cup defeat to League Two’s Grimsby Town in August, and it’s easy to see why Fernandes has been linked with a move away from the north west.

Yet Fernandes, now established as one of Amorim’s key figures and a regular starter under the manager, might recognise that a move away may not necessarily improve his situation.

It comes as Turki Al-Sheikh has posted a cryptic message regarding the ownership future of Manchester United.

The Glazer Family currently possess the authority to sell their complete shareholding in the club through the activation of ‘drag along’ rights, which stop majority owners from being held hostage by minority stakeholders.

While the Glazers hold the capability to compel Sir Jim Ratcliffe to offload his stake, there had been minimal talk of such a scenario materialising until Wednesday evening.

In an almost unexpected post on X, Saudi businessman Al-Sheikh suggested that the club might soon undergo a change of ownership.

He posted: “The best news I heard today is that Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor. I hope he’s better than the previous owners.”

The message arrived merely hours after a rare interview with Ratcliffe was made public, in which, the Ineos chief gave no suggestion that he was considering relinquishing control of the club.

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