Bruno Fernandes has turned down an offer worth £133 million to leave Manchester United, according to reports. The Portuguese playmaker, who has been a key figure at Old Trafford for nearly a decade, was also approached last summer by Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal with a proposal worth almost £100 million.
United did not instantly reject that earlier proposal despite Fernandes' influence on the team, but the 31-year-old chose to stay. He then enjoyed one of his best-ever seasons, breaking the Premier League assist record and being named the PFA Players' Player of the Year.
Fresh Saudi interest ahead of contract final year
Speculation over Fernandes' future has resurfaced this summer as he enters the final year of his contract, although Manchester United hold an option to extend for a further 12 months.
According to the Sunday Mirror, Fernandes received another huge offer from Saudi Arabia worth £640,000-a-week and £133m over four years. The report says he again rejected the approach from Saudi Pro League officials, which arrived during the World Cup, as his focus remains on Manchester United.
Galatasaray, Juventus and AC Milan all expressed interest earlier in the summer, but United indicated they were 'wasting their time'. BBC Sport reported that Manchester United informed interested parties that Fernandes would not be sold 'at any price'.
Carrick's impact and title hopes
United have largely struggled during Fernandes' spell at the club, but they climbed to third in the Premier League last season after Michael Carrick took over. There was hope United could challenge Arsenal for the title in Carrick's first full season, but a shock opening-day defeat to Hull City has tempered expectations.
Reflecting on his time at Old Trafford in June, Fernandes told ESPN: 'Obviously, I wanted to have won more, it wasn't quite what I had expected for myself and for the club.
'But I had very good times. We managed to reach some finals, some of them we won, others we didn't.
'But my goal has always been to win the biggest competitions and the Premier League is part of it. And I still have that dream in me and I hope to achieve it.'
Looking ahead to Ipswich clash
Asked about Carrick's impact since replacing Ruben Amorim, Fernandes added: 'I think he brought a very positive energy to the team, he tried to be very positive, because obviously we were in a moment of coaching transition, which is always a difficult time for the team.
'He tried to be positive, obviously he brought new ideas and a different way of playing, which was also important for some players to find an escape to be protagonists again.
'And it's been good, obviously, because the results demonstrate that too. We hope that we will continue to do so.'
After losing to Hull on the opening week, Manchester United will be desperate to return to winning ways on Sunday against fellow newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
