The Portugal midfielder rejected huge offers from Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad last summer in order to stay with the Red Devils.
Al-Hilal were reportedly keen to pay Fernandes £700,000-a-week, which would have seen him earn around £200M over the span of a three-year contract.
Fernandes ultimately decided to remain at Old Trafford, as he remained loyal to the club despite constant difficulties in recent years. Speaking to Canal 11, the 31 year old explained that the money was tempting.
“I could have left like many people do and said: ‘I want to leave, I don’t want to train, I just want to leave for €20m or €30m, so they pay me more on the other side.’ But I never did that. I never felt in a position to do that, because I felt that the empathy and affection I had for the club were the same.
“But there comes a point where, for them, money is more important than anything. The club wanted me to go, I have that in my head. I told the directors this, but I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision.”
The midfielder has 103 goals and 93 assists in 307 games for United and he seems determined to forfill his contract until June 2027. He spoke more on the potential move in which the club attempted to cash in on him.
“I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely like the club. 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, 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.”