sports

Bruno Fernandes Rejects €200m Saudi Offer for Family Values

Published

4 months ago

May 25, 2026

Bruno Fernandes reveals he rejected a €200m Saudi offer, saying family values and life goals mattered more than money

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has revealed that he rejected a €200 million contract offer from Saudi Arabia during the summer transfer window, explaining that personal values and family priorities influenced his decision on Monday, May 25, 2026, in an interview discussion referenced from the “Diary of a CEO” podcast.

Also read: Harry Kane Wins Golden Boot Award in Dominant Triumph

Bruno Fernandes, the 31-year-old Manchester United midfielder and club captain, said he was tempted by the lucrative proposal but ultimately chose to remain at Old Trafford, where he continues to play a central leadership role.

The Portugal international disclosed that the decision was guided by his desire to set the right example for his children, stressing that financial gain was not his primary motivation in football.

“Instead of becoming the richest person from my town ever, I want to live my dreams. And I want to pass these values on to my children,” Fernandes said during the interview.

He reflected on his early career struggles, revealing that his journey was far from glamorous when he first moved abroad as a teenager.

Fernandes explained that he moved to Italy at the age of 17, earning just €1,700 per month, while facing uncertainty about his professional future.

He also paid tribute to his wife, describing her role in his journey as crucial, noting that she supported him through the early stages of his career despite having her own ambitions and life plans.

“At age 17 I went to Italy and I earned €1.7k per month. There was a lot of uncertainty. There was nothing guaranteed,” he said.

The midfielder added that his wife chose to support his dream from a young age, a decision he credited as part of their shared journey toward building a stable family life.

Also read: Harry Kane Wins Golden Boot Award in Dominant Triumph

Fernandes, now a father of two, said his focus remains on footballing ambition and family responsibility rather than financial accumulation, despite continued interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.

Up Next

Luis de la Fuente Names Strong Spain Squad for World Cup

Don't Miss

Harry Kane Wins Golden Boot Award in Dominant Triumph

Chigozin Obinna

Click to comment

Opinion

Why Are Football Fans Expecting Trophy Haul from Man City’s 114 Breaches?

Published

11 hours ago

September 30, 2026

Mariam Balogun

By Tai Emeka Obasi,

It is exceedingly terrible for clubs operating in a league as supremely elite as the English Premier League, EPL, to fraudulently cheat themselves to massive success.

Also read: NFF Appeals CAF Ruling on Edo Queens’ WAFU-B Victory

Rules are rules, and supposedly responsible club managements should comply with them in administering a game termed the beautiful game.

Manchester City is currently in the eye of the storm for all the wrong reasons.

A whopping 115 breaches were brought against the club, with reports now indicating that an independent commission found City guilty of 114 of them.

The club, however, maintains that the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality.

Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has appealed to the fans to remain calm and faithful, insisting that the club will continue to defend its position and pursue the available legal process.

According to reports, Manchester City is expected to appeal the verdict. The sanctions have not yet been announced, and the possible consequences could include a heavy fine, points deduction, stripping of titles or even relegation.

From the available reporting, however, there is no basis for football fans to start celebrating the prospect of receiving Manchester City’s trophies.

Even if titles were eventually stripped, the relevant period under investigation is 2009 to 2018.

During that period, Manchester City won three Premier League titles, in 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18, as well as three League Cups, in 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2017/18.

That immediately puts a different complexion on the matter.

For instance, Manchester United finished runners-up to City in the 2011/12 and 2017/18 Premier League seasons, while Liverpool finished second in 2013/14.

But whether those titles would actually be reassigned to the runners-up is another matter entirely.

There is no automatic rule that says a stripped title simply moves to the team that finished second. Any such outcome would depend on the eventual sanction imposed by the relevant authorities.

The same applies to Arsenal and the League Cup. Arsenal were beaten by City in the 2018 final, but that does not mean Arsenal would automatically inherit the trophy if City were sanctioned.

Expert opinion has suggested that the eventual punishment could include a substantial financial penalty and a huge points deduction, potentially severe enough to threaten City with relegation.

But until the sanction is formally determined, nobody can say with certainty what punishment Manchester City will receive.

For Gunners fans, therefore, we should lower our expectations from City’s debacle. Even if Manchester City are eventually found guilty after the appeal process and even if they are relegated, Arsenal will not stroll to this season’s title.

Our last match against Brighton and Hove Albion is a huge warning that our squad is not as complete as it is generally acclaimed to be.