Man Utd Issue 'Response' After Bruno Fernandes Claims Club Wanted Him to Leave

Manchester United have clarified that Bruno Fernandes' bombshell interview was conducted "a few weeks ago" after the quotes emerged following their 4-4 draw against Bournemouth.

Fernandes has claimed United's hierarchy wanted to sell him in the summer but "didn’t have the courage" to force him out.

The 31-year-old, who has been one of the club's standout performers this season, gave serious consideration to an offer from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, who were ready to give Fernandes a wage package of around £700,000-a-week over three years.

Al Hilal were also willing to part with a fee of around £100 million and had been confident of having an offer accepted given Manchester United's financial difficulties at the time, according to ESPN.

Fernandes' agent, Miguel Pinho, travelled to the Middle East for negotiations and a deal looked to be on the cards.

But despite the eye-watering figures on offer, the United captain decided to stay at Old Trafford. “There was an opportunity," Fernandes said in June regarding the offer from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.

Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring his free-kick against Bournemouth on Monday. Image credit: Getty

"The president called me and asked if I wanted to go there. They were waiting for me. I spoke to coach Amorim. He asked me not to go. Manchester United didn’t want to sell me. They don’t need the money."

"If I had wanted to leave, they would have made it happen.“ he added.

Bruno Fernandes questions Man Utd loyalty in bombshell interview

Five months after making the above comments and Fernandes has made some extraordinary claims in a recent interview with Portuguese outlet Canal 11.

“Manchester United wanted me to leave, I have that in my head,” said Fernandes.

“I think they didn’t have the courage because Ruben Amorim wanted me here but from the club’s side I felt that if I left, it wouldn’t be so bad.

“Cristiano advised me, but the final decision always rested with me. I decided to stay because I genuinely love the club, but loyalty isn’t as well regarded as it once was.”

Fernandes also confirmed that the previously mentioned chat with Ruben Amorim also played a part in his decision to stay at Old Trafford, but the hierarchy were open to selling him, which "hurt" the Portuguese midfielder.

“I could have left in the last transfer window and I would have earned much more money,” Fernandes said on the Soltinhos pelo Mundo show.

“I was going to leave a season ago – I won’t say where – but I would have won many trophies that season. I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely love the club.

“The conversation with the manager also made me stay. But, from the club’s side, I felt a bit like, ‘If you leave, it’s not so bad for us.’ It hurts me a bit.

“More than hurting, it makes me sad because I’m a player who [there is] nothing to criticise. I’m always available, I always play, good or bad. I give my all.

“Then, you see things around you, players who don’t value the club as much and don’t defend the club as much… that makes you sad.”

Fernandes was strongly linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League. Image credit: Getty

Fernandes went on to speak about the idea of playing in Saudi Arabia.

“If one day I have to play in Saudi Arabia, I’ll play in Saudi Arabia,” he said. “My lifestyle will change, my children’s lives will be sunny, after six years in Manchester with cold and rain, I’ll be playing in a growing league, with renowned players.

“I could have left like many people do and said: ‘I want to leave, I don’t want to train, I just want to leave for €20 or €30m, so they pay me more on the other side. But I never did that.

“I never felt in a position to do it, because I felt that the empathy and affection I had for the club were the same.

“But it gets to a point where, for them, money is more important than anything. The club wanted me to go, I have that in my head.

“I told the directors that, but I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision, because the manager wanted me. If I had said I wanted to leave, they would have let me go.”

According to the Manchester Evening News, United have confirmed the Bruno Fernandes interview was conducted a few weeks ago and set up by the Portuguese national side.