Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he had sent Bruno Fernandes a message after reading reports that the Manchester United Skipper had rejected a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League.
The Saudi giants have been in the last few weeks in hot pursuit of the Portuguese and have even made direct contact with the entourage of the player in the past week.
Mail Sport revealed that the Fernandes agent, Miguel Pinho, spent three days in the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh for three days last week, where he held face-to-face conversations with club officials.
The Saudi club is said to have made an offer worth £ 200 million on a three -year contract – and are ready to offer in the £ 100 million region for the midfielder. However, reports on Tuesday morning claim that Fernandes has made a decision about his future and rejected the proposal of the Saudi giants.
Ferdinand was unable to control his joy on the news, which he claimed could not have made him happier.
“Listen, I have to be honest to you,” he said on his YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand presents. “I don't know if I could have said no. He is 30 years old, in a club struggling. '
He added: 'Bruno's stay, our most powerful goal scorer, our largest provider, our greatest chance maker, he does a lot and our captain.
'I couldn't have woken up happier this morning and I sent him a message. I will not comment on that, but what a man. '
Earlier, Fabrizio Romano revealed that the playmaker would like to continue playing at the highest level of European football.
The detail that Fernandes wants to play at the 'top level in Europe' can still cause problems for United – which ended 15th in the competition and lost the Europa League final.
If they had won that match, against Premier League rival Tottenham, they would have qualified for the Champions League and have been good to keep Fernandes.
It is still to be seen which top European parties would be interested in Fernandes.
As part of the deal, the Saudi giants were prepared to manage the current weekly wage of £ 280,000 of Fernandes of £ 280,000 to a tax -free sum of £ 700,000.
Many United fans have been uncertain about the future of Fernandes, given his recent social media activity and the fact that the star was spotted alongside an al-Hilal star.
The player himself was seen during the weekend at the birthday party of Joao Cancelo and shared a group meal to celebrate the former Manchester City star who turned 31.
The two countrymen will both fit later this week for the Portuguese national team, but the timing of this link has only increased speculation.
The appearance of Fernandes in the position also came shortly after a cryptic social media post that some fans led to believe that he would be on his way from Old Trafford.
Fernandes was recently sent back from the miserable tour after the season in the Far East, where they were lost in Malaysia in Malaysia against Asean All-Stars, for fans who had paid up to £ 260 to participate.
After the second game of their tour, in which they returned from a goal to beat Hong Kong 3-1, Ruben Amorim insisted that he does not believe that Fernandes played his last game for United.
The besieged boss said: 'I don't think so. I'm not sure. I think he wants to stay. He says no to many things.
'The club can find other ways to make money. The feeling that I get is that he certainly wants to continue with Man United, you never know. '
United sources have repeated that they do not want to sell Fernandes, but the club is still financial pressure after their defeat by Tottenham in the Europa League final cost them £ 100 million in Champions League income.
After the final, Fernandes themselves recognized the possibility of a summer exit.
He said reports: 'If the club thinks it's time to separate because they want to come up with some money or whatever, it is what it is. Football is sometimes so. '