Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has delivered a candid and revealing assessment of his time at the club, expressing significant regret over a lack of trophies and alleging the club's owners were open to selling him.
Fernandes' frank admission on Rio Ferdinand's podcast
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the Portuguese midfielder, 31, admitted his five-and-a-half-year spell at Old Trafford has not gone to plan. Fernandes joined from Sporting CP in a £47 million deal in January 2020, but has only secured an FA Cup and a League Cup since his arrival.
"Obviously, I think the time at the club has not been as I wanted," Fernandes stated. "I wanted to lift trophies and I haven't lifted as many as I should and I could." He reflected on the club's dramatic decline, which hit a new low last season with a 15th-place Premier League finish under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Rejected mega-money move and boardroom tensions
Fernandes disclosed that during the club's toughest periods, he had attractive opportunities to leave but chose to stay out of loyalty. This summer, Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal was ready to pay £100 million to United for his signature, offering the player a staggering £700,000-a-week contract.
However, in a separate interview with Canal 11, Fernandes made the explosive claim that while manager Ruben Amorim wanted him to stay, the club's hierarchy saw his departure differently. "The club wanted me to go, I have that in my head," he revealed. "I told the directors this, but I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision."
He added, painfully: "It hurts me a lot. More than hurting, it makes me sad... I’m a player they have nothing to criticise about." These assertions directly contradict United's public position that Fernandes was never for sale and remained central to their plans.
A legacy defined by loyalty over silverware?
Fernandes mused on how his legacy is perceived, noting the modern emphasis on trophies. He suggested he could have taken "a different path" to win more, but remained present for United when they "struggled the most." He drew a parallel with Italian legend Francesco Totti, who is revered at Roma despite a relatively modest trophy haul.
The playmaker, who ultimately stayed for family reasons and his affection for the club, expressed frustration at seeing other players who "don’t value the club as much" receive different treatment. His comments paint a picture of a dedicated captain feeling undervalued by the very owners he has been loyal to, amidst a backdrop of sporting and institutional turmoil at Manchester United.
