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Manchester United make clear their stance as Middle East interest grows in senior star

Originally posted on We All Follow United
By Rohit Sarkar | Last updated May 12, 2025 10:52 AM ET

Manchester Utd stand firm on Bruno Fernandes amidst Middle East interest

Summer transfer rumours are in full swing, with European football abuzz over potential big-money moves and high-profile targets. For Manchester United, the latest speculation surrounds Bruno Fernandes, whose name has reportedly emerged on the radar of Saudi giants Al-Hilal.

After failing to lure Mohamed Salah from Liverpool, Al-Hilal have now shifted their focus to Fernandes, eyeing the Portuguese playmaker as their next marquee signing. Yet, despite the lucrative offers and financial allure, Manchester United have drawn a firm line in the sand. According to Football Insider, the club’s board has made it clear: Fernandes is not for sale.

For Fernandes, the timing couldn’t be worse. Amid a season rife with inconsistency and uncertainty, the 28-year-old remains one of the few constants in United’s struggling squad. Sources within Old Trafford indicate that the midfielder is fully committed to the club, with no interest in a move to Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career. The player reportedly remains focused on his role as a leader in the dressing room, determined to help stabilise a team that has lost its identity in recent months.

Hands off warning for interested parties

In a season marred by inconsistency and tactical disarray, Bruno Fernandes has stood tall as Manchester United’s undisputed leader. Nineteen goals and as many assists speak volumes about the Portuguese playmaker’s elite campaign, a rare bright spot amid a year of collective underachievement.

Fernandes’ influence has been undeniable. In every crucial fixture, every moment when United desperately needed clarity and direction, he has delivered. His intelligence on the ball, vision, and relentless drive have made him the go-to player in an otherwise faltering squad. Even as the tactical structure around him crumbled, Fernandes maintained a level of consistency that few could match.

With Bruno Fernandes as the lynchpin, Manchester United still have a fighting chance. Amid the uncertainty and tactical disarray, the Portuguese playmaker remains the one constant, the player who doesn’t disappear when the storm hits. To part ways with Fernandes now would be to rip out the spine of a team already struggling to find its identity.

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United need a rebuild, no doubt. The midfield requires reinforcement, the defence demands restructuring, and the attack needs fresh impetus. But all of these changes must be orchestrated around Fernandes. He is the glue that holds the team together, the player capable of dictating the game’s tempo, creating chances, and rallying his teammates when things get tough.

Ruben Amorim understands this all too well. The manager, who has leaned heavily on Fernandes to maintain any semblance of order this season, knows that the captain’s influence extends beyond his goals and assists. It’s his leadership, his ability to command the pitch and drive the team forward, that makes him irreplaceable.

This article first appeared on We All Follow United and was syndicated with permission.

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