Bruno Fernandes has confirmed that he ‘wants to stay’ at Manchester United but is desperate for the club “to be competitive” in all competitions moving forward.
The 29-year-old has scored 72 goals and registered 63 assists in 223 appearances for the 20-time English champions since making the move from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.
Fernandes was appointed captain of the Red Devils last summer, and he has again been a vital player for the club this season, scoring eight goals and registering nine assists in 38 appearances in all competitions.
The Portugal international has two years left to run on his current deal, with the option of a further 12 months, but there has recently been speculation surrounding his future.
Last month, it was claimed that Al-Hilal had made an ‘astronomical offer’ for Fernandes during the January transfer window and are ready to return with a new bid this summer.
The attacker has confirmed that he wants to stay at Man United and is determined to help the club compete for major trophies once again.
“I’ve always told the club that I don’t want them to promise me that we’re going to be champions,” he told A Bola. “Because, for any club I go to, I don’t expect them to promise me something that they can’t fulfil at the outset.
“What I have always asked, and want from the club, is for us to be competitive. This year, we weren’t, and we don’t have to hide it. The season has been below our expectations, below what my expectations are, at least. And I believe that for the club too because it is not used to being in this position.
“I want to be competitive. I want to compete. I want to win. I’ve already had a meeting with the new owners. They want to meet with the players and have already done so individually, and that was exactly the message I sent.
“I want to stay here. I want to be part of a project that has feet, legs, body and head, everything that is needed so that we can compete with Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, who are the clubs that have been in the best shape.
“City and Liverpool above all, and Arsenal, who, in the last two or three years, have also been growing. After last year, when I think we had a good season for the expectations that existed and for my expectations, [because] I was aware that we weren’t going to be at the same level as Liverpool and City.
“I was aware of that but I was also aware that we could compete or be closer, and we were closer to competing with them. We reached two finals, we won one, we lost another. We reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
“But, from last season to this one, there wasn’t that continuity that, should there have been, would have made us even more competitive, a team more in line to be in the top places.”
Fernandes scored and provided an assist in Portugal’s 5-2 win over Sweden on Thursday, and he has now been released from the camp, with the midfielder being rested for his national side’s next game against Slovenia.
