Amorim Insists Man Utd Want to Retain Captain Fernandes Amid Saudi Interest

 Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has publicly stated his desire to keep captain Bruno Fernandes at the club, despite growing interest from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.

Fernandes, whose current contract with Manchester United runs until 2027, has reportedly become a target for Al-Hilal. The Saudi Pro League club is believed to be prepared to offer the 30-year-old Portuguese playmaker a significant salary to secure his move before the Club World Cup next month.

Amorim acknowledged the financial realities of needing to sell players to fund a substantial summer rebuild of the squad. This necessity would become even more pressing if Manchester United fail to win the Europa League, thus missing out on qualification for next season’s Champions League.

However, speaking on the matter, Amorim was clear about the club’s intentions regarding their captain. “Our idea didn’t change,” he affirmed. “We want to keep the best players – and Bruno is clearly one of the top players in the world. We want Bruno here.”

Fernandes has been a pivotal figure for Manchester United this season, contributing significantly with 19 goals and 18 assists to date.

“It is easy to understand [his importance] – not just because of the numbers but the way he plays and the importance he has during his five years here,” Amorim added, emphasizing Fernandes’ overall impact. “It’s normal a lot of clubs want a player like Bruno. He is a leader and he’s the captain, so he’s really important. He is a top player, we need top players.”

Manchester United are widely expected to progress to the Europa League final against either Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt, following their comfortable 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their semi-final. Historically, teams with a three-goal advantage from an away leg in European competition have always advanced.

However, Amorim cautioned against complacency, referencing Manchester United’s inconsistent form this season, including a near collapse against Championship side Coventry in the FA Cup semi-final and a chaotic extra-time win against a 10-man Lyon side.

“If you look at our season, anything is possible,” Amorim admitted. “We cannot say today what is going to happen. [With] some teams, the story is going to be like ‘this’ and [they] control the narrative. We cannot do that.”