Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes says staying at the club is his top priority amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

You would not expect a Manchester United player to come out and suggest he intends to leave the club, but sometimes players’ silence can be deafening too.

Bruno Fernandes has thankfully moved to quickly shut down any attempts from the Saudi Pro League to lure him away.

Rudy Galetti had claimed Saudi Arabia’s PIF (Public Investment Fund) had identified Bruno Fernandes as a player they want to enter negotiations with to sign him, over the year ahead.

Bruno Fernandes shuts rumours down

Speaking in Portugal over the international break, Fernandes has pledged his commitment to Manchester United.

He was quoted by TVI: “Being coveted is always good, regardless of the League or the club. But my focus is on the national team and Manchester United, I’m happy where I am. In the national team we are going through a very good moment, at Manchester United we didn’t start as we wanted, but I’m not thinking about the long term.

“I don’t look much at market rumors, they’re things I never wanted. Until the moment something concrete comes to me, I don’t care what I see. Today it is very easy for market rumors to reach the press. I prefer to be focused on my goals.”

Important to address speculation

The transfer rumours may be nonsense, and it’s important for the player to remove any doubt. This was where a distrust grew with Paul Pogba during his time at Manchester United.

Even if the speculation over his future was also not very credible, the Frenchman fuelled it, often during international breaks. It used to become a pattern, whenever he went away with his country, rumours would crop up, often from one of his own poorly thought out comments.

In 2019 he was quoted by The Mail: “Real Madrid is a dream for any kid or footballer and especially with Zidane. I am happy at United but you never know what will happen tomorrow.”

It was widely interpreted as a come-and-get-me plea, except, Real never came forward with a serious offer.

But it was these type of comments which saw United fans turn against him, whether it be from Pogba himself, his brother, or agent Mino Raiola. Coupled with inconsistent performances and injury issues, it all began to spiral from there.

United fans always wanted Pogba to pledge his commitment to United and mean it, and then show it.

This is why it is important for Bruno Fernandes to set an example and pledge his future to the club, especially during a time when the team is going through a tough spell on the pitch.

There are a couple of players who might want to follow suit. Casemiro and Raphael Varane have been speculatively linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League in recent weeks, recently via The MEN.

Whether they have interest or not, if they are committed to United, they should come out and say so. Otherwise their silence may speak for itself.