Bruno Fernandes' response as Man Utd star approached again over Saudi transfer

Al-Nassr boss Jorge Jesus has confessed that he failed in a speculative attempt to sign Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. The Portugal star was also the target of a mammoth offer from Saudi champions Al-Hilal after hinting at a possible departure from Old Trafford at the conclusion of the previous season.

Fernandes eportedly received a staggering proposal from Al-Hilal that would have netted him over £60 million annually, with the Red Devils standing to gain £105 million for his signature. Yet, despite contemplating a move akin to that of his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, he chose to stay put at United. It has now come to light that Ronaldo's present club, Al-Nassr, also made a preliminary attempt to secure the 30-year-old. Portuguese tactician Jorge Jesus has acknowledged engaging in discussions with Fernandes, only to learn of his resolve to remain with Ruben Amorim. "I wanted to [sign him], but Bruno is determined to stay," Jesus told Sport Informa.

"We already talked last year. This year I knew he had made the decision to continue with Amorim. He's in a league that they say is the best in the world, but I don't agree. For me, it's the Spanish league."

Instead, Fernandes will be at the heart of United's midfield next season, playing behind an attack that has had over £200m worth of surgery. Benjamin Sesko is poised to become Amorim's third acquisition of the summer, arriving from RB Leipzig in a transaction valued at £74 million.

The Slovenian is set to join Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who arrived after significant deals from Wolves and Brentford. United's move to sign these players comes as a necessary boost after managing only 44 league goals in their disappointing last domestic season.

Sesko's signing comes after Fernandes' admission that the squad needed bolstering. During their US tour, he said: "I don't want to have a dig at anyone, but I think the club is doing the best they can in terms of all the financial situations they talk about.

"I don't know about it, I'm not involved in that. But obviously it was crystal clear we needed more competition for the players that were here. We needed more quality to get everyone to step up a bit more and to have more to do to get into the starting line-up. I think that's what the club and the manager are trying to do and hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that."

Regarding his own future, Fernandes added: "There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it. 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."

United face Fiorentina at Old Trafford in their last pre-season match on Saturday, ahead of the kick-off of their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on August 17.

A version of this article first appeared on the Mirror website