Bruno Fernandes green lit transfer to Man Utd's rivals but club blocked exit

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Bruno Fernandes' career trajectory could have been vastly different had he joined the first Premier League side to express interest in signing him. While he has thrived at Manchester United , they weren't the quickest off the mark when it came to pursuing his signature.

It was during the summer of 2019, while Jose Mourinho was at the helm of Tottenham , that they first made enquiries about signing the then-Sporting CP playmaker. However, the north London outfit were reluctant to meet the asking price, meaning he stayed in Portugal.

The 31-year-old eventually made the switch to Old Trafford for an initial £47million just under six months later. Today, Fernandes is considered one of the Premier League 's top stars and has captained United for nearly three seasons.

But the story could have unfolded very differently had Spurs been prepared to pay the required fee a little more than six years ago. Fernandes addressed the potential transfer diplomatically when speaking about it at the close of the 2019 summer transfer window.

In an interview with GQ, he said: "As you all know, Tottenham made a lot of proposals for me. Everything was right with me - or practically should be. I never made any big demands, my manager was always dealing with the finances.

"It was, and is, my goal to play in England. Sporting know that, everyone knows that, and there were conditions for things to be done. But Sporting understood that the value was not enough and I have to respect the decision."

Fernandes' future at Old Trafford has become a hot topic once more following fresh speculation about a potential departure next year. He was reportedly targeted by Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal during the summer window, and he's now spoken candidly about the rumours, taking a swipe at United for failing to make him feel sufficiently valued .

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"I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely like the club," he told Maisfutebol . "The conversation with the manager also made me stay. But, from the club's side, I felt a bit like, 'If you leave, it's not so bad for us'. It hurts me a lot.

"More than hurting, it makes me sad because I'm a player they have nothing to criticise about. I'm always available, and I always play, good or bad, I give my all. Then you see things around you, players who don't value the club as much and don't defend the club as much... that makes you sad."

Ruben Amorim clearly had a significant influence in persuading United's skipper to remain at the club for at least another campaign. Yet this may only be a short-term solution, as Fernandes has since given another interview suggesting he could be tempted by moves to Spain, Italy or Portugal .

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He revealed to Canal 11 that he "would like to experience the Spanish league and fight for big titles in Italy," where his daughter was born. He also mentioned Sporting as a possible reunion if they were to approach him.

The attacking midfielder has recorded 196 direct goal contributions across 307 appearances for United and remains under contract at Old Trafford until 2027, with an option for an additional year. Tottenham may rue their decision not to stump up the cash for a player who has repeatedly demonstrated his quality in England, with their missed opportunity becoming a major United coup.

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