Al-Nassr to sign Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Earlier this summer, Al-Hilal was heavily linked with the Portuguese international, but the attacker ultimately turned down the possibility of a move to the Saudi Arabian club.
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“Manchester United said they didn’t want to sell me,” Fernandes stated in June. “They said that if I wanted to leave, I could do it, but that they didn’t need the money. I talked to coach Ruben Amorim who during the whole period pushed for me not to go.”
“I want to play at the highest level possible. I want to participate in big tournaments. I know I can still do it, and I want to be happy while doing what I love most. For better or worse, that’s how I look at football, and I’m passionate about this sport. This is the choice I have made.”
Al-Hilal are said to have been willing to pay around £100 million for the 30-year-old, which would have been an extremely lucrative deal for Manchester United.
Fernandes is still the club’s most influential player, with 98 goals and 86 assists in 290 appearances for “The Red Devils” since joining from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.
Al-Nassr ‘pushes’ to sign Fernandes
According to A Bola, there is new interest from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Nassr now looking to secure the Portuguese before the transfer window closes.
Reports claim that Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus, who previously coached Fernandes at Sporting, wants a reunion, while Cristiano Ronaldo also plays an important role in the club’s pursuit of him.
Contact has already been made, but Manchester United will once again fight to keep hold of the striker, who is currently with the team on a pre-season tour of the United States.
Al-Nassr have already signed João Félix from Chelsea this summer, and they have also shown interest in United’s Antony, as the team is desperate to win the Saudi Arabian league next season.
Fernandes was outstanding for United in a difficult 2024/25 season, with 19 goals and 19 assists in 57 appearances in all competitions – including eight goals and eleven assists in the Premier League.
Can Al-Nassr sign Fernandes this summer?
Selling Fernandes for big money would be a financial boost for United, but it would send a completely wrong signal. The club cannot do without a player of his calibre during a transition period.
Fernandes is a truly unique player for United. Money talks in the world of football, and Al-Nassr have plenty of it – but United are expected to resist the interest of a club now partly owned by Ronaldo.
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