“Bruno is determined to stay”

Al-Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus has confirmed that his club failed with an attempt to sign Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes during this summer’s transfer window.

Fernandes was heavily linked with a big-money move to Al-Hilal earlier this summer, but the Portugal international made it clear that he wanted to remain at Old Trafford.

Al-Nassr have also recently been credited with an interest, with Cristiano Ronaldo, who both plays for and now part-owns the Saudi outfit, said to have been in touch with his international teammate.

Jesus has confirmed that he wanted to sign Fernandes, but the 30-year-old made the decision to remain with the 20-time English champions, who are now just over a week away from the start of their new Premier League campaign.

“I wanted to [sign him], but Bruno is determined to stay,” Jesus told Sport Informa. “We already talked last year. This year I knew he had made the decision to continue with [Ruben] Amorim.

“He’s in a league that they say is the best in the world, but I don’t agree. For me, it’s the Spanish league.”

Al-Nassr head coach Jesus confirms Fernandes pursuit

Fernandes told Man United that he would be willing to leave this summer if the club made the decision to sell him, but Red Devils head coach Amorim fought to keep hold of his captain.

The Portuguese has been one of Man United’s best-ever signings, scoring 98 goals and registering 86 assists in 290 appearances for the club since his arrival from Sporting Lisbon.

Last season, Fernandes scored 19 goals and registered 19 assists in 57 appearances, and he will lead the team into their Premier League opener against Arsenal next Sunday.

Fernandes has a contract at Old Trafford until June 2027, with the option of a further 12 months, and an extension cannot be ruled out at this stage of proceedings.

“Manchester United said they didn’t want to sell me,” Fernandes said in June. “They said if I wanted to go I could, but they didn’t need the money. I spoke to coach Ruben Amorim who, throughout that period, he was pushing for me not to go.

“I want to play at the highest possible level. I want to play major competitions. I know I still can and I want to be happy doing the thing I love the most. For better or worse, this is how I see football and I’m passionate about football and this is the decision I’ve made.”

What position will Fernandes play for Man United this season?

There has been much talk surrounding Fernandes’s position in the Man United side, as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have been signed to play in the number 10 spots during the 2025-26 campaign.

Mason Mount and Amad Diallo are also options in that area of the field, so there is a strong chance that Fernandes will be used in a deeper midfield position during the new season.

Man United are in the market for another midfielder this summer, though, while Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro are also options in the middle, so it will be fascinating to see what Amorim has in mind for the new campaign.

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