Will Bruno Fernandes (31, Manchester United) head to Saudi Arabia? He is in negotiations with Al Hilal, but has not yet reached an agreement on contract terms.
Saudi 'Al Ariyadia' reported on the 1st (Korea time) that 'Al Hilal offered Bruno a four-year contract worth €100 million (about 157 billion won). However, Bruno wants a three-year contract.'
The media reported that 'Al Hilal wants to sign Bruno on a four-year contract, but he, the captain of Manchester United, proposed a three-year contract to Al Hilal. According to the same source, if Bruno accepts Al Hilal's offer, he will receive an annual salary of €25 million (about 39.2 billion won), totaling over €100 million.'
However, Bruno wants more. According to Al Ariyadia, he has demanded to shorten the contract period to three years, with a salary of €30 million (about 47.1 billion won) and bonuses ranging from €6 million (about 9.4 billion won) to €8 million (about 12.6 billion won).
Al Hilal wants to have Bruno join the team as soon as possible since the FIFA Club World Cup starts in mid-June. However, it is now a pressing situation with only about two weeks left. It remains uncertain which party, Al Hilal or Bruno, will concede on contract terms.
Bruno is now being considered to leave Manchester United for the first time in five years this summer. He is widely recognized as Manchester United's top ace. Since joining Manchester United from Sporting CP in 2020, he has consistently performed remarkably.
Despite Manchester United's fall to 15th in the Premier League this season, Bruno's standout performances continued. He scored 19 goals and provided 18 assists in 57 matches across all competitions. It is no surprise that he was named Manchester United's Player of the Year, marking his fourth selection.
The UK's 'BBC' noted that 'Bruno has extended his contract with Manchester United until 2027 and was the team's top scorer last season. Some analysts believe Manchester United would have faced severe relegation threats without him.'
However, with oil money backing him, Saudi Arabia is calling for Bruno. Recently, BBC reported that 'Bruno is considering parting ways with Manchester United to join Al Hilal. He is seriously contemplating a proposal to leave Manchester United for Al Hilal next week. This is an offer that can generate a significant amount of money.' It added that 'Bruno's representatives met with Al Hilal officials over the past few days to discuss additional options to ensure he can participate in the Club World Cup set for June. This issue has become a topic of discussion during Manchester United's Asia tour.'
Currently, Manchester United is facing a financial crisis. They were defeated by Tottenham in the final, thwarting their UEFA Europa League (UEL) championship hopes. As a result, their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season have diminished, leading to a massive loss of nearly £100 million (about 186 billion won).
According to BBC, Manchester United already has accumulated losses of about 550 billion won over the past three years and a liability of over £1 billion (about 1.86 trillion won). Additionally, they must pay a penalty of £10 million (about 18.5 billion won) for every failure to qualify for the UCL due to sponsorship contract penalties.
Given the financial pressure Manchester United is under, there is a sufficient possibility of considering the sale of Bruno. Of course, manager Ruben Amorim values him highly. During the Asia tour, when discussions about Bruno's future arose, he said, 'I have said multiple times. Looking at his performance, leadership, and passion for the game, it's clear. Bruno is someone who takes responsibility in tough moments. He must do so as the captain.'
However, under the pressure of a substantial transfer fee, they can’t help but waver. BBC also reported that 'Amorim has indicated that Bruno wants to stay at Old Trafford (Manchester United's home ground). However, he is aware that a transfer fee of £80 million (about 148.7 billion won) could be the best way to rebuild the team.'
Ultimately, Bruno's decision will be crucial. If he agrees to personal terms with Al Hilal, Manchester United may have to let go of their captain in the face of such a significant sum of money.
Although negotiations have not been finalized, the atmosphere of the negotiations is not bad. Earlier, the UK's 'Times' explained that 'Bruno's agent has been engaging in positive discussions with Al Hilal' and that 'Bruno has been deeply considering the proposal he received from Al Hilal during the Asia tour.'
It is expected that his future will be determined next week. The media emphasized that 'the agent negotiated with Al Hilal officials at a hotel in Saudi Riyadh on Thursday night. He then conveyed the contract terms to Bruno. Al Hilal is hoping to hear his decision by this weekend to ensure his participation in the Club World Cup starting June 14.'
For now, Bruno has stated that if Manchester United wants him to leave, he will do so. After the final, he said, 'I have repeatedly told the club that I will stay. However, if Manchester United says to me that I must leave, then I will depart.' He added, 'If the club tells me I must leave due to financial difficulties, I think that is how football works. If the club wants to cash in on me, I will gladly comply.'
[Photo] Backpost UK, Football Insider, Sky Sports, OneFootball social media.
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