United on edge as Saudi club ready to offer star massive salary to call it quits at Old Trafford – report

Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad have reportedly reached a major transfer decision involving Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. Fernandes facing uncertain United future Fernandes is enjoying another top season at United but his future at the club is far from certain, with a summer exit potentially on the cards. Last summer, Fernandes came close to leaving United, having received a mega offer from Al-Hilal. Despite United’s struggles in 2024/25, he still notched an impressive 19 goals and as many assists on his way to winning the club’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards. Al-Hilal offered Fernandes a three-year contract worth a basic £700,000-a-week, with the deal potentially having been worth £65m-a-season including signing-on fee and bonuses. Al-Hilal were prepared to table a bid in excess of £100m for the Portugal international. Comments from Fernandes recently surfaced, in which the player said that club chiefs wanted him to leave but lacked the courage to inform him directly of their desire. United insist that Fernandes remains a big part of their plans but links to Saudi have refused to completely go away. With the Red Devils planning an overhaul of their midfield, there is a real chance that the 31-year-old could go. According to the Daily Mail, Al-Ittihad have maintained a strong interest in Fernandes after failing to secure his signature last summer, and are now prepared to table a contract offer to lure him away from Old Trafford, but only if he indicates he wishes to move to the Saudi Pro League. Al-Ittihad make Fernandes decision The Mail reveal, “Even though Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr led the Saudi pursuit of Fernandes last summer, Confidential understands that Al-Ittihad – one of the other big four clubs backed by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund – also held calls and meetings with representatives close to the United captain.” It’s understood that Karim Benzema’s brother was a key figure in Al-Ittihad’s attempt to sign Fernandes. The report adds, “Those familiar with the talks have explained that there has been growing confidence for a while that the actual fee it would take to land Fernandes is closer to the £65-70m mark, rather than £100m.” “The rebuttal of Al-Hilal did not deter Al-Ittihad and they are firmly in the mix to make another play of around £26-27m a year to the player, should he offer any encouragement that he would consider Saudi Arabia.” Fernandes and his teammates are next in action on Saturday when they go away to Aston Villa. Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!