The agent of Bruno Fernandes arrived in Riyadh today with reports linking the Manchester United captain with a blockbuster move to the Saudi Pro League this summer.
The Red Devils have endured a miserable campaign this season with Fernandes offering a rare light amid a sea of woeful performance from his teammates.
The Portuguese international has scored 19 goals and provided 20 assists, despite often being deployed deeper in midfield by Ruben Amorim. At times, he has single-handedly dragged his side through games.
Amorim is adamant Fernandes should remain at Old Trafford next season with reports suggesting Al-Hilal have identified the 30-year-old midfielder as a key target this summer, after a failed pursuit of Liverpool winger Mohammed Salah.
The Saudi side are reported to have tabled a “mega bid” to sign Fernandes with a deadline of Thursday set for him to accept or reject the offer.
And it’s this deadline which makes the arrival of Miguel Pinho, Fernandes’ agent, in the Saudi capital potentially so significant – 24 hours before it’s due to pass.
Pinho was spotted outside of the Four Seasons hotel in the Saudi capital, as pictured below.
🔴 حصريًّا لـ winwin 🔴
ميغيل بينهو وكيل النجم البرتغالي برونو فيرنانديز متواجد في فندق قريب من نادي الهلال السعودي ✅
هل هنالك مفاجأة جديدة من الزعيم قبل مونديال الأندية؟ 🙄#ملعب_لكل_الرياضات pic.twitter.com/2jVEEaBZnI
— winwin (@winwinallsports) May 29, 2025
Translated Tweet: “Exclusively for winwin. Miguel Pinho, agent of Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes, is in a hotel near the Saudi Al-Hilal Club. Is there a new surprise from Al-Zaeem before the Club World Cup?”
Win Win, a Middle Eastern news outlet, reveals this hotel is where “Al Hilal officials typically meet with players and agents,” further strengthening the idea that Pinho’s presence relates to their interest in Fernandes.
The Portuguese agent also represents other players who have been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia, but the timing of his arrival feels too coincidental.
Of course, Fernandes could simply be communicating his intent to reject Al-Hilal’s approach and has instructed his agent to do so in person. But it leaves open a trail of doubt that a move which had appeared almost impossible a few weeks ago may be set to reach a bitterly painful conclusion for United fans.
This remains one to watch as the summer window begins to unfold but it must be reiterated that it is still speculation as to the exact purpose of Pinho’s trip to Riyadh.
Feature image Jan Kruger via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
