Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has revealed why he turned down the opportunity to leave Old Trafford last summer.
The Portugal international confirmed that there were offers for him to depart, but he chose to speak directly with the club’s hierarchy and former manager Erik ten Hag. Fernandes said he asked the board if they still viewed him as part of their long-term plans.
The former Sporting CP player was assured that he would play a crucial role in the club’s rebuilding process, which led him to decide to stay at United.
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Reflecting on his decision after United’s 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, Fernandes told BBC Sport:
“I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave. We talked about the possibility of me staying or leaving, and they explained what they wanted from me. I just asked if they still saw me as part of the future of the club. I also spoke with Ten Hag, and he was very clear with me, as was the club. They thought I would be a big part of the rebuild. I believed we could be successful.”
Fernandes has been a key figure for Manchester United this season. His performance in their 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on March 13 helped secure a spot in the UEL quarterfinals with a 5-2 aggregate score, with Fernandes scoring a hat-trick in the second leg.
