Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes says it “hurt” to realise the club “wanted me to leave” when Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal proposed a huge offer in the summer.
The Portugal international, 31, rejected the move to the Saudi Pro League in order to stay at Old Trafford, despite Al-Hilal reportedly being open to paying a fee of about £100m and wages of up to £700,000 a week.
Fernandes has a contract that runs to 2027, with the option of an additional year.
He said in October, before his 300th United appearance, that he will not discuss his future with anyone until after next year’s World Cup.
Looking back on the Al-Hilal interest in a new interview recorded a few weeks ago, he said of United’s stance: “From the club I felt it was, ‘If you go it’s not so bad for us’. It hurts me a bit.”
Fernandes made the claims to Canal 11, a channel owned by the Portuguese Football Federation.