Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United wanted me to leave this summer

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has claimed “the club wanted me to go” when Al-Hilal made a big-money bid to sign him in the summer.

The Saudi Arabian club were reportedly willing to pay £100million for the 31-year-old midfielder, offering the Portugal international wages of up to £700,000 a week, but Fernandes ultimately stayed at Old Trafford after talks with manager Ruben Amorim.

In an interview with Canal 11, a channel owned by the Portuguese Football Federation, Fernandes has said he felt senior figures at United were keen to cash in.

“I could have left in this transfer window, I would have earned much more money,” Fernandes said in comments reported by A Bola. “I was going to leave a season ago, I would have won many trophies this season, but I decided not to go, not only for family reasons but because I genuinely love the club.

“From the club I felt it was, ‘If you go it’s not so bad for us’. It hurts me a bit. More than hurting me, it makes me sad. I’m a player that no one can criticise, I’m always available, I always give my best…

“I don’t see it as a matter of money. Financially I can’t complain, although the difference with Saudi Arabia is massive.

“If I ever go to play in Saudi Arabia, I will, it won’t be for the money, I’ll go because the lifestyle will change, my children’s lives will be sunny, after six years of cold and rain in Manchester, because I’ll be playing in a league that’s growing.

“The passion and empathy for the club were the same, but it reaches a point where money is more important to them than you. The club wanted me to leave. I told the directors that, I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision because the manager wanted me.

“But if I said I wanted to leave, even