Bruno Fernandes has revealed it was a poignant message from his wife that stopped him leaving Manchester United last year.
The United captain has enjoyed an exceptional season at Old Trafford, in the running for the Player of the Season award and just three assists away from setting a new Premier League assist record.
But the 31-year-old was on the brink of leaving the club at the end of last season when Saudi side Al-Hilal were prepared to pay £100million and triple his salary to prise him away from Manchester.
United were prepared to let their skipper go but after consulting his family, the Portugal international decided to stay.
Fernandes has been United’s best piece of business of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era but has won just two trophies during his time at the club, the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
As he mulled over his future last year, it was his wife Ana questioning whether he had achieved all he wanted at the club that helped decide things.
‘I stayed because I thought I still had something that I can give back to the club,’ Fernandes told United legend Wayne Rooney in an interview for BBC Sport.
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‘Obviously the Saudi situation, with the money… there was a lot. The good thing I have in my family is that my wife is pretty down to earth like me.
‘We’re very aware that we don’t want to be the richest person in the world. We just want to be the ones that have achieved the dreams they had and live a good life with their kids and trying to be as successful as possible.
‘The words of my wife were like, “have you achieved your dreams? Have you achieved everything you wanted?”
‘And that small thing she said made me understand that she’s on the same page as me. Let’s keep trying and see where this takes me.’
United are on course to finish third and return to the Champions League next season. Fernandes’ future remains uncertain ahead of a pivotal summer transfer window with just one year left on his current contract – a deal that includes an option of a further 12 months.
Fernandes believes there is still time to challenge for those major honours.
‘I want to win the Premier League,’ he said. ‘I want to win the Champions League. I never hide from that.’
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