05/06/2025

Read

iPaper at Malaysian Paper

www.thesun.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download

app from the App Store or Google Play TM . Malaysian Paper or download

SCAN ME

SCAN ME

THURSDAY | JUNE 5, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Furious Florian

Sivasangari on a roll

Ruthless Alcaraz

- Story on page 29

- Story on page 30

- Story on page 31

United skipper Fernandes turns down Saudi move, wants to play at highest level Major coup

M ANCHESTER UNITED captain Bruno Fernandes has confirmed he has turned down a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia because he wants to “stay at the highest level”. The 30-year-old midfielder has been the subject of speculation linking him with a £100 million (RM574m) switch to Al Hilal, with the Saudi Pro League side reportedly prepared to pay him £700,000 (RM3.9m) per week. However, Fernandes confirmed he had rejected the chance to move after speaking to Ruben Amorim and his family. “The president of Al Hilal called me a month ago to ask about the possibility of me moving there,” Fernandes told a Portugal press conference, according to Portuguese outlet O Jogo . “I had to wait a while to think about the future. As I’ve always said, I would be willing to do it if United thought it was best to move on. “I spoke with Ruben (Amorim), who really tried to talk me out of it. I spoke to the club, who said they weren’t willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave. “From my side, it was a very ambitious proposal, the president was a fantastic person. I never talked about the money, it ended up coming up later, with my agent. “I had to make the decision as a family and understand what I wanted for my future. That was the question my wife asked, what my professional goals would be. “At no point did she say yes or no, she always supported me and put my professional side first. “It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo. My children are used to playing with theirs. “But I simply want to stay at the highest level, playing in the big competitions, because I still feel capable of that.

‘No, I want to fight through this, I want to see it through the other side, I want to come out and achieve things,’ I think it says a lot about him as a person, as a character. “The club needs people who are going to run through a brick wall for them.” United have already made one move in the transfer market this summer by signing Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves.

have been a bad deal. “But, on the other hand, Manchester United’s star player – only player at times – for the last four, five, six years, has been Bruno Fernandes. He’s so important. “To turn that money down at a point where Manchester United are at their l owe s t ebb and say,

and I’m happy with my decision.” Fernandes scored 19 goals and got 19 assists to be named United’s player of the year for a fourth time, but they still recorded their lowest League finish for half a century. And Fernandes, speaking as Portugal prepare to face Germany in the Nations League, admitted: “Our season was very tough. We weren’t able to achieve our goals.” As rumours of Fernandes’ decision circulated, former United and England defender Gary Neville welcomed the reports as Amorim starts the process of reshaping his squad following a dismal season. Neville told Sky Sports News : “It’s significant. “I think that there was an element of this situation that meant United getting that level of money, for someone of Bruno’s age, obviously, you couldn’t say that it would

They are also being heavily linked with Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo. Departures

could include J a d o n S a n c h o , a l t h o u g h latest reports have suggested Chelsea are prepared to pay a penalty fee to escape an obligation to make his current loan permanent. Neville said: “They need

players who are going to come in and hit the ground running and Cunha and Mbeumo have got obviously Premier League experience. “We know the likes of Sancho,

“I want to continue to be happy and do what I love most. I’m still very passionate about this sport. It’s my way of seeing football

(Marcus) Rashford, Antony, and probably (Alejandro) Garnacho are going to leave, so they need definitely players in those positions.” – The Independent

Bruno Fernandes. – AFPPIC

theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2625 Email: newsdesk@thesundaily.com • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com