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Rio Ferdinand has revealed he may have left Manchester United this summer if he was in Bruno Fernandes’ shoes and taken the lucrative money on offer in Saudi Arabia.
Fernandes was heavily pursued by Saudi side Al-Hilal in the first transfer window this summer, with his suitors having made him their priority signing ahead of the Club World Cup.
They were prepared to give the Portuguese playmaker a tax-free contract in the region of £700,000-a-week plus bonuses for him to move to the Middle East.
United were also set to earn around £100million in the sale, but Fernandes rejected Al-Hilal’s overtures to stay at Old Trafford.
Fernandes would have tripled his wages at Al-Hilal and speaking about the midfielder’s decision, Ferdinand says he would have found it hard to resist but praised his loyalty for doing so.
‘If I was him, I think I’d have found it difficult to say no. I’ve got to be honest, the former Red Devils defender told The Mirror.
Rio Fernandes (right) has spoken about Bruno Fernandes rejecting a summer move to Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal wanted to have a marquee player ready for the Club World Cup that has just begun
‘The one thing it says to me, there’s a loyalty. And I think that word gets banded about quite a lot, but we don’t really see it often from the club’s point of view and the players.
‘And listen, I understand it’s a business. But I think he looks at this as pure, “I’ve got unfinished business at United. There’s stuff I want to do here. Yes, I’ve been paid well here. The fans love me.” But I think he’s in the game of wanting to give back after all he’s received. So I’ve got nothing but respect for him. I would have understood him leaving if he left, 100 per cent.
‘But the fact that he stayed and said, listen, there’s stuff for me still to do here. I think it’s a testament to him as a person, but also another reason why the managers comfortably give him the armband.’
During the Al-Hilal bid, Mail Sport revealed that Fernandes’ agent, Miguel Pinho, spent three days at the Four Seasons hotel in Riyadh, where he held face-to-face talks with club officials.
And earlier this month, Fernandes revealed why he decided against the move.
‘The president of Al Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,’ he said.
‘There was a waiting period for me to think about the future. As I have always said, I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so.
‘I spoke to coach Ruben Amorim who, throughout that period, was very annoying to me not to go! The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave, that it was not a financial issue.
The Red Devils captain, though, opted to stay with his current club instead of move, however
Fernandes revealed he spoke to his wife Ana Pinho (left) about the move, who asked him about his career goals
Fernandes was recently spotted dining with Joao Cancelo at the Al Hilal star’s birthday party
Fernandes’ agent, Miguel Pinho (left), spent three days in Saudi last week to discuss a move
He also detailed how he spoke to United boss Ruben Amorim (right), who asked him not to go
‘It [Al-Hilal’s] was a very ambitious proposal. The president was a fantastic person. We never discussed the amount [initially]. With my agent? Of course.
‘Then, I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career. She was someone who always supported me a lot.
‘It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Joao Cancelo there, my children are used to playing with him in the national team, we have a great friendship.
‘But I want to maintain myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions, and I feel capable of it.’
