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Bruno Fernandes has admitted that he would have understood if Manchester United had encouraged him to leave for Al-Hilal in June.

Fernandes was approached by the Saudi Arabian side at the end of last season and given a life-changing contract offer. He was offered a contract worth £700,000 per week by Al-Hilal, who were willing to pay £100million to United for their captain.

The Portuguese midfielder spent a few days considering the proposition along with his family before turning it down. His decision came on the back of one of United’s worst ever seasons in which they finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final against Tottenham.

Fernandes said at the time that United did not want to sell and that Ruben Amorim made it clear he wanted him to stay too. But he knows that the amount Al-Hilal were willing to pay meant his employers had to seriously consider cashing in on their captain.

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“I haven’t fulfilled my dreams here yet,” he told Sky Sports when asked why he didn’t leave. “I think I can still give something to the club. I think I’m still in a position where I’m helpful so the thing for me is that I will be here until the club decides that ‘Bruno, it’s time to go’.

“Obviously, I know it was tough on the club to decide that because it was a big amount of money that the club hasn’t got probably since Cristiano [Ronaldo] left, he was the last one where they got so much money for a player.

“I know for the club it was tough to decide. Because on one side I’m the club captain, I’m important for them, even if at times I’ve not been great, I’ve been performing and everything. I know that in the public eye it will be bad if things go wrong. But it would be very good if things go well – if they sell me and they get more players and whatever.

“But in my mind I’ve always said that this is the place I want to be. The dream of coming and playing in the Premier League, because for me it is the biggest league in the world and I want to fulfil my dreams of staying here and winning more things with the club. Obviously I know people will have different opinions – he’s 30 years old, he’s getting old…”

Fernandes said at the time that he had rejected the move because he wanted to continue playing at the highest level. He also did not want to uproot his young family to live in a country like Saudi Arabia, where the culture is very different.

The 30-year-old has two years left on his current contract, which pays around £300,000 per week, and United also have the option of a 12-month extension. Although United struggled last season, Fernandes contributed 19 goals and 19 assists in 57 games across all competitions.

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