In fact, staying at Manchester United does not immediately help his European career.
The British 'Daily Mail' reported on the 28th (Korean time) that "Al Hilal has made a final offer to Bruno Fernandes. They want Fernandes to decide on his transfer status within 72 hours," noting that "Al Hilal, which seeks personal agreement with a huge weekly salary, will immediately make a recruitment offer to Manchester United if Fernandes agrees."
Manchester United lost 0-1 to Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League (UEL) held at Estadio San Mames in Bilbao, Spain, on the 22nd. As a result, Manchester United's chances of advancing to the UEFA Champions League next season have been thwarted. Additionally, their league performance was poor, leading to the failure to qualify for European competitions.
On the other hand, Tottenham lifted a trophy for the first time in 17 years since winning the League Cup in 2008. This victory in European competitions marks their first since winning the UEFA Cup, the predecessor of UEFA, in the 1983-1984 season, 41 years ago. Son Heung-min, who came on as a substitute in the second half, also achieved his first career victory, breaking his title drought. He lifted a major trophy with his team for the first time in 15 years since making his professional debut in Hamburg, Germany, in 2010. After "two failures and three attempts," he shed tears of joy instead of sadness in the final.
According to the British 'BBC', Manchester United's recent defeat is not just a simple runner-up finish. It is reported to have cost them nearly £100 million (approximately 186 billion won) financially. The BBC pointed out that "Whether or not they advance to the Champions League has a significant impact on Manchester United's overall financial structure." In fact, Manchester United has accumulated losses of about 550 billion won over the past three years, with liabilities exceeding £1 billion (approximately 1.86 trillion won). Additionally, every time they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, they have to pay a penalty of £10 million (approximately 18.5 billion won) to Adidas and sponsor contracts.
Financial expert Kieran Maguire analyzed that participating in the Champions League could generate revenue of up to £100 million. However, Manchester United failed to qualify for the Champions League after losing 0-1 to Tottenham in this final, making a complete overhaul of their rebuilding plans inevitable.
The British 'Sky Sports' also noted that "Manchester United may not be able to revamp their squad this summer to even half of what they want or need. This is due to reduced financial impact. In particular, it is concerning that Bruno has acknowledged this," adding that "financial issues are certainly a major obstacle. But aside from that, does Manchester United still have the appeal to persuade players?"
Amidst this, the possibility that captain Fernandes may leave the team has also been raised. He has consistently attracted interest from big clubs, including those in the Middle East and Barcelona, but has shown loyalty to Manchester United. Although he was greatly disappointed with Manchester United last summer, he ultimately chose to stay. However, now that Manchester United is suffering from financial pressure, Fernandes's future has also become uncertain.
After the final, Fernandes stated, "I have told the club multiple times that I want to stay. But if Manchester United tells me to leave, I will leave," adding, "Honestly, I want to continue playing at Manchester United, but if the club says to leave, that’s just football." He continued, "If the club says I have to leave due to financial difficulties, I think that's just how football is." He noted, "There are no guarantees for the future in football. I've always thought that way, and I still do. If the club wants to monetize me, I will gladly follow."
Manchester United won 2-0 against Aston Villa in the final match, but the repercussions have not faded. The Daily Mail explained that "Al Hilal's attempt to recruit Fernandes is serious. Al Hilal has now made a final offer to Fernandes. If accepted, Fernandes would receive a weekly salary of £700,000 (approximately 1.3 billion won)."
The weekly salary Fernandes currently receives at Manchester United is about £280,000 (approximately 520 million won). Considering the differences pre- and post-tax, his simple weekly salary would increase by more than four times. If Fernandes were to leave, he would earn approximately £200 million (approximately 372 billion won) over three years, including bonuses.
The Daily Mail stated that "Fernandes is leading the team's summer tour as part of Manchester United. He has until the 29th to respond to the offer. Negotiations between the player and Al Hilal have already progressed to some extent," emphasizing that "if Fernandes decides, Al Hilal will immediately make a recruitment offer of £100 million (approximately 186 billion won) to Manchester United."
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