Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has made a defiant claim over the future of captain Bruno Fernandes as Al-Hilal step up their attempts to sign the playmaker.
The 30-year-old's future has inevitably been called into question following Man United's worst-ever Premier League season, and Al-Hilal have been accelerating their pursuit in recent hours.
The Saudi Pro League giants are understood to have held productive talks with Fernandes's camp earlier this week, while the player himself is also seriously considering a move to the Middle East.
As speculation surrounding his next career move rages, Fernandes started Man United's 3-1 friendly victory over Hong Kong on Friday, playing the first half before being replaced by Toby Collyer.
Amorim was unsurprisingly quizzed on his skipper's situation in his post-game press conference, where he was asked whether the Portugal international may have just played his final game for the club.
Amorim 'doesn't think' Fernandes has played last Man United game
© Iconsport
"I don't think so, I don't know for sure. Nobody knows but I don't think so," Amorim told the press. "I think he is seeing us taking some actions to change all the things and I think he saw that and I think he wants to stay.
"He is saying no to a lot of things but he shows he wants to win. He's really young, he's really good he needs to be in the best league in the world."
At the end of a miserable 2024-25 season, in which Man United finished 15th in the Premier League and lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, Fernandes opened the door to an exit from the Theatre of Dreams.
The 30-year-old insisted that he would not hesitate to jump ship if he felt he had outlived his usefulness at the club, whose coffers would be significantly boosted if they chose to accept a bid from Al-Hilal.
However, Amorim also affirmed that the Red Devils will not be forced into selling their star player and can navigate their way through their financial crisis by other means.
"Yes, we can find another way to earn money," Amorim added. "Of course I'm the manager, I'm the coach but sometimes it's the decision of the player. But of course I talk with him, I explain things. I just have that feeling if he wants to stay.
"Of course in a lot of games this season he was so frustrated but he knows what we are doing. The feeling is every time I speak with him he wants to continue at Manchester United but you never know."
What happened in Man United's friendly with Hong Kong?
© Imago
A couple of days on from a humiliating defeat to ASEAN All-Stars, Man United were on the brink of another embarrassing result when Juninho propelled Hong Kong into the lead with 19 minutes gone.
Amorim's men had no response before half time, but 11 changes at the break did the trick, as Chido Obi drew the Red Devils level four minutes into the second 45 before doubling his tally in the 81st minute.
Following Obi's brace, his fellow former Arsenal product Ayden Heaven put Man United 3-1 up in second-half injury time, as Amorim's men restored some parity on tour.
Ben Knapton
