Football

BRUNO FERNANDES has spoken about his decision to snub a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia – explaining how his wife helped him decide to stay put.The Manchester United captain has turned down the chance to more than triple his wages after he was approached by Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal about a summer switch.Bruno Fernandes has broken his silence on his Al Hilal transfer snubCredit: PAFernandes has revealed his wife Ana helped him make his mind upCredit: Instagram/anaapinho_Fernandes and Ana haver been married since 2015Credit: Instagram/anaapinho_Fernandes, 30, has now revealed that he rejected the move following a call from the Al Hilal president and a chat with United boss Ruben Amorim.But it was his wife Ana who had the biggest influence, making sure he put his professional ambitions over everything else.Speaking in his press conference while on International duty with Portugal, Fernandes said: “There was that possibility, the president of Al Hilal called me a month ago to ask“There was a waiting period on my part to think about what the future would hold. I would be open to it, if Manchester United felt it was my time.READ MORE ON MAN UTD”I spoke with Mister Ruben Amorim, who really tried to talk me out of it. I spoke with the club, which wasn’t willing to sell, only if I truly wanted to leave. “We never talked about money; that was all handled by my agent, not me.“I spoke with my family to understand if that was what I wanted for my future. “It was actually my wife who asked me — I never said yes or no. She put my professional priorities ahead of everything else.Most read in FootballRuben Amorim told Fernandes he wants him to stayCredit: ReutersJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford“It would have been an easy move. I had Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo there, two people I have a great friendship with. “But I want to stay at the highest level, play in big competitions, because I still feel capable. I want to keep being happy, I’m still very passionate about this sport, and I’m happy with my decision.”Ruben Amorim breaks silence over futures of Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro GarnachoFernandes had been given a one week deadline by Saudi officials to mull over a three-year tax-free contract worth £200million.The Portuguese playmaker is thought to be keen to remain at the top level in Europe and doesn’t see Al Hilal as the right move for his career.Fernandes has been Man Utd’s standout performer in a season that has seen the club endure one of the worst campaigns in their history – culminating in Europa League final defeat to Tottenham. Following that European embarrassment, Fernandes said: “I have always been honest. I’ve always said I will be here until the club says to me that it’s time to go.”I’m eager to do more, to be able to bring the club the great days.It was actually my wife who asked me — I never said yes or no. She put my professional priorities ahead of everything else.Bruno Fernandes”I’m eager to do more, to be able to bring the club the great days.”In the day that the club thinks that I’m too much or it’s time to part ways, football is like this, you never know it. But I’ve always said it and I keep my word in the same way.”If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it’s what it is, and football sometimes is like this.”Fernandes’ current terms at Old Trafford run until the summer of 2027.Man Utd have already begun their transfer business in a bid to strengthen their squad ahead of next season.Alongside keeping hold of star man Fernandes, United announced on Sunday that they have completed the signing of Wolves attacking midfielder Matheus Cunha.The Old Trafford outfit have agreed to pay a £62.5m fee for the Brazilian, 26, who will put pen to paper on a five-year deal.Read More on The SunWhile Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo looks set to become the next new arrival for Ruben Amorim’s side.Mbeumo, 25, has reportedly decided that he wants to join United over the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham – who are also thought to be keen on the Cameroonian.Man Utd have announced the signing of Matheus Cunha from WolvesCredit: GettyBentford star Bryan Mbeumo looks like he could be the next summer signing at Old TraffordCredit: Getty More

MANCHESTER UNITED are making early moves in the transfer market. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos have made a fast start to their second summer window since their arrival as co-owners at Old Trafford – and the stakes could not be higher.Man Utd have already confirmed the arrival of Matheus CunhaCredit: AFPBryan Mbeumo reportedly has his heart set on an Old Trafford transferCredit: GettyBut what does this all mean for Bruno Fernandes after he snubbed a deal to join Al-HilalCredit: PAWhile there is an argument to be made that none of the transfers made in the last 12 months were TOTAL flops, it did not stop Man Utd from having their worst-ever Premier League season.And the squad clearly needs a lot of work to bring it up to the standard of even a top-half team.Fortunately, club transfer chiefs have wasted no time in trying to address those issues, first of all confirming the signing of 15-goal Wolves Brazil ace Matheus Cunha for £62.5million.The 26-year-old’s move will be completed once he returns from international duty.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThen, just a day later, reports emerged revealing Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo had his heart set on a move to Manchester.Mbeumo scored 20 goals and added seven assists last season, and, according to reports, is ready to snub Newcastle and Arsenal to seal a deal estimated to be around £50m.Furthermore, club captain and talisman Bruno Fernandes will now NOT move to Al-Hilal after turning down a crazy offer of £700,000-a-week – and around £100m for United.While Fernandes – the team’s only genuine world-class player – seemingly staying is doubtless a positive, it poses the question of how Ruben Amorim will arrange his new assortment of attacking goodies. Most read in FootballSunSport has taken a look at three ways Man Utd could line up next season, including some other stars the fallen giants have been linked with ahead of a huge summer.BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKAs mentioned earlier, Man Utd need work from top to bottom, including both a new goalkeeper, central midfielder and striker, even after the Cunha and Mbeumo deals.For our first possible team, we have named World Cup winner Emi Martinez in goal after SunSport exclusively revealed how the Aston Villa star was “up for the challenge” of turning Man Utd around.Rashford to Inter Milan? Man Utd Star Eyes Shock Serie A Move!The starting back three sees Lisandro Martinez, who prior to his injury was one of the best performers under Amorim, alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro, who both got better as the season went on.Fernandes is in midfield, where he can get on the ball the most and set the tempo from deeper, which seems to be his new main position under Amorim.Next to him, is Brighton star Carlos Baleba, who would act as the perfect foil to the 30-year-old in the middle of the park, but crucially also bring on and off the ball quality.The data suggests the 21-year-old is among the best in the league for defensive contributions such as blocks, interceptions and tackles in the attacking third.He also ranks fifth in ball recoveries in the league, behind Moises Caicedo, Fernandes, Elliot Anderson and Joao Gomes. This would naturally be an expensive deal, so only time will tell whether he firstly wants the move and secondly whether Man Utd can agree a good deal with Brighton, who are notoriously tough negotiators.But then, with Amad Diallo and Patrick Dorgu as the wing-backs supporting Mbeumo and Cunha, we have added former Premier League bad boy Aleksandar Mitrovic into the attacking mix.The Al-Hilal star is reportedly open to a return to England, and joining Man Utd to link up with Cunha and Mbeumo would see the club have three of the best midtable stars the Prem has seen in the last five years.However, our other teams have also swapped some of the names mentioned for similar players linked.In goal, we have also speculated on the arrival of former Man Utd academy shot-stopper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and Serie A star Zion Suzuki.Man Utd will need a top midfielder who is physically fit and capable on the ball to strengthen the spine of the team, which also leads us to Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton as an alternative to Baleba. Again, this is an expensive deal. But Man Utd should be eyeing sure hits in the market this summer, rather than speculating on potential – a criteria both Baleba and Wharton, while admittedly still young, already possess. In terms of Fernandes’ role, there is an argument to be made that his best football for Man Utd came playing right behind the striker, where he is most impactful in the final third. Cunha and Mbeumo represent two strong profiles to link up with.And should Man Utd suffer a striker crisis or fail to land an appropriate ace this summer, they could always deploy Cunha as a “false 9” with Mbeumo and Fernandes buzzing off of his link play.There is also a chance Amorim switches to a more attacking two-striker system if he wants to really stretch games. Read More on The SunIf Man Utd can set up a reunion between Amorim and Viktor Gyokeres, he may look to have two fast forwards leading the line to stretch the opposition defence before the likes of Cunha arrive to support them in the final third.Sales will be key to these plans of course, but many are already seemingly in the works, with Rasmus Hojlund attracting interest from Inter Milan, Marcus Rashford linked with Barcelona, and bad boy Alejandro Garnacho tipped for a move to Chelsea or Napoli. More