- Fernandes opens up on Al-Hilal interest
- Had teased possible United departure
- Red Devils ultimately blocked exit
Fernandes has claimed he always wanted to stay at United this summer despite reported interest from Al-Hilal. The Portugal international is the Red Devils’ best and most important player but had teased a possible exit at the end of last season after his side finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham.
Fernandes ultimately decided to reject a lucrative offer from the Middle East in order to play a role in reviving United’s fortunes and has now revealed he told Al-Hilal’s president to go through official club channels rather than contact him personally.
“I know numbers matter the most in football,” Fernandes told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Obviously it was a big number that the club could get for me. So I know how tough it was for the club.
“When I spoke with the president of Al Hilal, I spoke with him once and I told him, ‘I’ve never thought about leaving, I appreciate your call. Whatever you want to do or not, you can talk with the club,’ because I’ve always said if the club wanted to sell me, then yes, I had to make a decision. But if the club doesn’t, I don’t have to make a decision, because my aim is to stay here.
“It’s a lot of money for me, too, but it is what it is. People make decisions in their lives. I won’t regret it because this is the place I want to be and this is the place where I want to be successful also.”
Fernandes will be more optimistic about United’s chances of success this season following a summer which has seen his side sign Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to completely overhaul their attack. Their first match of the campaign arrives on Sunday against title hopefuls Arsenal.
