Bruno Fernandes' reaction as transfer offer with huge bonus rejected – 'Was not fair'

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes had the perfect response to transfer interest during his time at Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese midfielder has been United's talisman since arriving at Old Trafford in January 2020 and was heavily relied upon again during another difficult campaign.

30, was often among the few bright sparks in a team that finished 15th in the and lost out to in a dour final. In the aftermath of the team's defeat in Bilbao, Fernandes admitted that he would reluctantly leave if the Red Devils accepted a move, and the has reported that are one of the first clubs to test their resolve by setting a strict deadline for a transfer.

The side are claimed to have given Fernandes until Thursday to decide on a which would see the United skipper earn around £200m in wages over the course of three years. However, Fernandes is accustomed to interest from other clubs and impressed the hierarchy when a high-profile deal was rejected, just months before he signed for United.

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Fernandes was the subject of a £58m (€65m) offer from Spurs in 2019. Fresh from reaching the final, side had identified him as the next key part of the puzzle. However, Sporting president Frederico Varandas explained that the bid was rejected due to the structure of the deal.

Spurs tabled an initial £40m (€45m) with another £18m (€20m) in bonuses, including winning the Premier League and Champions League. At the end of the summer transfer window, Varandas celebrated the club keeping hold of who he described as the "best midfielder in Europe", and shed light on Fernandes' reaction.

"It was 'impossible' to retain but we did it," Varandas said in a club statement in September 2021. "We prepared for his sale by putting a fair price on him, and we had bids, but the only serious offer was from and that was €45 million plus another €20m in bonuses for winning the Premier League and the Champions League. Those are difficult objectives, so we chose not to accept."

On the midfielder's reaction, Varandas added: " proved to be not only a great player but a great professional and captain. The dignity and responsibility that he has always shown is exemplary.

"The day I turned down Tottenham's proposal, I came to the training ground and spoke to him. I told him why I declined the offer and why he would stay here beyond the end of the market and he understood perfectly.

"In addition, he also understood that the bid they offered us was not fair. He's not leaving, he's a Sporting player. Many European clubs want him and we know this is something we will always have to deal with."

Fernandes had also been linked with and United that summer before the Red Devils snapped him up in the January window, joining in a deal worth £68m (€80m). The midfielder is currently leading the team on their post-season tour of Malaysia. However, he was after losing to Spurs in the Europa League final, which cost United a place in the Champions League and could force the club to sell key players to fund new signings.

"If the club thinks it's time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it is what it is. And football sometimes is like this," Fernandes said. "I have always been honest. I've always said I will be here until the club says to me that it's time to go. I'm eager to do more, to be able to bring the club to the great days.

"In the day that the club thinks that I'm too much or it's time to part ways, football is like this, you never know it. But I've always said it and I keep my word in the same way."

Fernandes could reportedly earn £700k-per-week tax-free, plus performance-related bonuses, if he were to join Al-Hilal, who are eager to add a star name before the Club World Cup in June. However, United boss Ruben Amorim wants Fernandes to remain at the club.

"He's really important for us and really important for what we want to build with this team," Amorim said. "The last game the team was without pressure, they performed quite well, everybody wants the ball, the team has different moments and in different moments Bruno [Fernandes] takes responsibility."

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