It is revealed that Manchester United will not actively sell Bruno Fernandes next summer! Fernandes complains that Sir Jim wants him to leave but lacks the courage to say it outright.

Against the backdrop of continuous speculation regarding Bruno Fernandes' future, the UK’s "Manchester Evening News" states that Manchester United does not intend to sell their captain in the upcoming summer transfer window. This summer, the Saudi Pro League’s top three clubs—Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Al Ittihad—made successive attempts to acquire Fernandes, but he rejected them. However, in an interview published by Portuguese media on Tuesday, Fernandes revealed that the club wants him to leave, bringing his situation back into the spotlight.

During an interview with Portugal’s Channel 11, Fernandes openly said that Manchester United wanted him to transfer to Al Hilal in the summer window, with Saudi investors willing to pay £100 million for him and offer a €200 million contract.

However, Fernandes also mentioned that the club’s management lacked the courage to explicitly decide to let him go.

It is well known that Manchester United’s stance this summer during the transfer rumors about Fernandes was to express a desire for him to stay, but they would not block him if he wanted to leave. Fernandes feels that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS management team wants to sell him but prefers not to take the initiative, hoping the player will request to leave. This way, Sir Jim avoids the responsibility of selling the captain and can claim it was the captain’s own choice to seek a move.

Fernandes told the Portuguese media: "From the club’s perspective, I think their thought was: ‘If you leave, it’s no loss to us.’ But that made me very sad—not so much painful as sorrowful. I consider myself a player without fault, always willing to give my all for Manchester United, putting in maximum effort every time I play, regardless of performance."

He also said he has nothing to complain about: "I have no grievances since I earn a high salary. The gap between Manchester United and other top clubs is indeed significant, but that’s not the reason for my decisions. If one day I have to play in Saudi Arabia, I will accept it. My lifestyle would change, but my children could still live happily. After six years in Manchester, experiencing cold and rain, I could join a rapidly developing league and compete with some well-known stars."

Fernandes admitted that he received an astronomical contract offer from Saudi Arabia, but his family, love for Manchester United, and coach Amolin’s persuasion led him to reject the transfer.

“I could have left like many others, saying I want to go, threatening to strike, demanding a €20-30 million annual salary—they offered too much. However, I never did that, nor did I ever think about it, because my feelings and love for the club have never changed. I decided to stay, partly for family reasons, but more importantly because I truly like the club. Conversations with the club’s coach (Amolin) also helped me make the final decision to remain.”

Fernandes is also clear about why the club wants to sell him. "At some point, for the management, money becomes more important than anything else. I am well aware the club wants me gone. I told the board directly, but I think they lacked the courage to make that decision (to sell me)."

Fernandes confirmed that he had talks with Al Hilal but ultimately rejected the transfer because of his love for Manchester United.

“The chairman of Al Hilal contacted me directly, called me, and Ruben Neves also messaged me wanting to talk. They wanted me to join Al Hilal and play in the World Cup. Their interest actually dates back to when Jorge Jesus was coach—in 2023, he already approached me.”

The 31-year-old Manchester United captain even openly stated that some teammates do not put in full effort. After Manchester United’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth, a video captured Fernandes complaining about his teammates. "When you see players around who don’t value the club or fight hard to defend it, you feel even sadder," Fernandes said.

The British "The Sun" revealed that this interview was conducted during last month’s international break. Players tend to speak more candidly during national team duties; Manchester United experienced similar issues during Paul Pogba’s tenure.

An insider at Manchester United reiterated that throughout the summer, the club’s leadership clearly stated Fernandes is a key figure in their future plans. Next summer, Manchester United has no intention of letting Fernandes leave and plans to invest in strengthening the midfield. The Red Devils recognize that although Fernandes has flaws, finding a direct replacement for his goals, assists, and fighting spirit is very difficult. Fernandes’ contract runs until 2027, with a club option to extend for 12 months.