Bruno Fernandes (31, Manchester United) is increasingly likely to leave Manchester United this summer.
BBC reported on the 30th (Korean time) that "Bruno is considering parting ways with Manchester United to transfer to Al Hilal. He is seriously contemplating an offer to leave Manchester United next week and join the Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. This is an offer that could bring in a lot of money."
The media noted that "Bruno’s representatives met with Al Hilal officials over the past few days. They discussed additional measures to allow him to participate in the Club World Cup, which is set to take place in June. This matter is currently a hot topic during Manchester United's Asian tour."
Currently, Manchester United has visited Malaysia right after finishing the season to compete against the ASEAN All-Stars team, and they will move to Hong Kong for the next match. Bruno is participating in this as well.
BBC explained that "Bruno is still focused on the Asian tour and is taking his responsibilities as the captain seriously. However, because he has not provided a definitive answer regarding his future, there are discussions about his readiness to leave. Manchester United is said to be relaxed about the current situation."
Bruno is widely regarded as Manchester United's top ace. Since joining Manchester United from Sporting CP in 2020, he has consistently performed well, scoring 19 goals and providing 18 assists in all competitions this season. It's no surprise that Bruno was named Manchester United’s Player of the Year for the fourth time.
BBC pointed out that "Bruno has extended his contract with Manchester United until 2027 and was the team's top scorer last season. Some critics have stated that without him, Manchester United would have been in serious relegation danger." In fact, despite Bruno's performance, Manchester United finished 15th in the Premier League.
However, it is also difficult for Manchester United to completely rule out the possibility of selling Bruno. The reason is that they could receive a substantial transfer fee from Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal is a team supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and boasts immense oil money.
BBC reported that "coach Ruben Amorim has indicated that Bruno wants to stay at Old Trafford (Manchester United’s home ground). However, he is aware of the rumors that a transfer fee of £80 million (approximately 148.7 billion won) could be the best way for the team to rebuild."
Amorim emphasized Bruno’s importance once again. When asked about Bruno’s future during the Asian tour, he said, "I have said this several times. You can see that Bruno is someone who takes responsibility in difficult moments due to his performance, leadership, and passion for the game. He has to do that because he is the captain."
However, if Al Hilal makes an irresistible offer filled with oil money and Bruno also wishes to transfer, the situation could change. BBC explained, "Al Hilal is set to face strong teams like Real Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg, and Mexico's Pachuca in the Club World Cup. They are eager to announce Bruno’s acquisition ahead of this."
The Times also stated that "Bruno’s agent has had positive negotiations with Al Hilal. If the transfer goes through, he will earn approximately £700,000 (about 1.3 billion won) per week. He currently earns about £300,000 (approximately 560 million won) at Manchester United."
The media adds that "Bruno has deeply considered the offer from Al Hilal during the Asian tour," noting that "his agent negotiated with Al Hilal officials at a hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday night. They then conveyed the contract conditions to Bruno. Al Hilal intends to hear his decision by this weekend to have him participate in the Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 14."
Earlier, Bruno mentioned a potential transfer after finishing as a runner-up in the UEFA Europa League (UEL). Manchester United lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the final held at the Estadio San Mamés in Spain on the 22nd.
This defeat for Manchester United is not merely a runner-up finish. Failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) also led to a loss of nearly £100 million (approximately 186 billion won). Manchester United has already accumulated a loss of around 550 billion won over the past three years and has liabilities exceeding £1 billion (approximately 1.8 trillion won). Furthermore, they must incur a penalty of £10 million (approximately 18.5 billion won) for every failure to qualify for the UCL, due to contracts with Adidas and sponsors.
In this way, as Manchester United struggles with financial pressure, Bruno’s future has also become uncertain. After the final, he honestly acknowledged, "I have said multiple times that I would stay with the club. But if Manchester United tells me to leave, I will go. Honestly, I want to keep playing at Manchester United, but if the club tells me to leave, that is just football."
Bruno also stated, "If the club says I have to leave due to financial difficulties, I think that is just how football works." He continued, "There are no guarantees in football. I have always thought that, and I still do. If the club wants to cash me out, I will gladly follow that," which can be seen in the same context as his serious consideration of the transfer to Al Hilal.
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