Rúben Amorim has sent a strong message to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal after their reported £100 million offer for Bruno Fernandes this summer.
Bruno Fernandes has been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal this summer amid the Middle Eastern club’s ambitions to sign him ahead of the Club World Cup next month.
Although Manchester United have been strong in stating they will reject all offers for Fernandes, it has been widely reported that the club may not stand in the player’s way if he requests to leave this summer.
The Daily Mail has reported that Al-Hilal is prepared to offer United £100 million for the 30-year-old club captain this summer. They have sent Fernandes a contract with a basic salary of £700,000 a week, with added incentives that could see him pocket £65 million a season for three seasons.
However, it is claimed that, amid their want to secure the deal quickly, they have handed Fernandes a deadline of early next week to make a decision on where he wants to play football next season.
Amorim addresses Fernandes transfer rumours
With the Europa League final loss costing the club around £80 million, should the Saudi Arabian side push for Fernandes in the coming days, it may be too tempting an offer for United to refuse.
However, speaking on Saturday afternoon, head coach Rúben Amorim was firm that he is only thinking about the Aston Villa fixture on Sunday afternoon, although his previous comments are no doubt a strong message to Al-Hilal that Fernandes will not be leaving Old Trafford.
“I don’t know what is going to happen,” The 40-year-old said on Saturday. “We have a plan and we prepared for both situations, with Champions League and without.
“We have an idea what type of squad we want, but now we have to focus on the last game and we will have time address all of those situations.”
Earlier this season, Fernandes was linked with a move to Real Madrid, and Amorim said that the time that “It’s not going to happen. This is the kind of player that we want, and he’s not going anywhere because I’ve already told him.
“He’s 30 but he’s still so young because he plays 55 games every season, and between assists and goals he’s there for 30 at least. He’s the type of player we want here.”
£100m is not enough money to part ways with Fernandes
Should Fernandes decide he wants to take up the contract with Al-Hilal, which would see him earn around £200 million across three years, United must aim to up the offer that the Saudi side will send.
Although £100 million would be United’s record sale, and it would all go down as pure profit since Fernandes signed a new deal and has been at the club longer than his initial contract until 2024, it’s not enough money to replace the player.
Fernandes is not only United’s best player, but also their most significant dressing room leader and one of the kindest personalities the club have had around Carrington in the last decade.
Replacing his work off the pitch would require at least two new signings, while his off-field responsibilities are borderline irreplaceable.
If Fernandes wishes to leave, United must be strong and demand a deal well in excess of the £100 million and make sure he leaves for a Premier League-record sale, which currently sits at £115 for Moises Caicedo to Chelsea in 2023.
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