Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.

The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.

“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.

“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”

Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.

“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.

“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.

“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”

The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.

However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

-Reuters

   Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

A car ploughed into a crowd of Liverpool fans during a parade celebrating their side’s Premier League soccer title on Monday, hospitalising 27 people, with two seriously injured, but police said they did not believe the incident was terrorism-related.

Police said they had arrested a “53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area,” whom they believed to be the driver of the vehicle which struck a large group of supporters who were celebrating in the city in northwest England.

Twenty people were treated at the scene. Ambulance officials said of the 27 taken to hospital, four were children. One child and one adult were in a serious condition. Four people trapped under the vehicle had to be released by firefighters.

Videos on social media showed people thrown into the air as the car rammed into spectators.

When the car stopped, angry fans converged on it and began smashing the windows as police officers intervened to prevent them from reaching the driver.

“We believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it. The incident is not being treated as terrorism,” temporary Deputy Chief Constable Jenny Sims told reporters.

With most people off work for the Spring Bank Holiday, hundreds of thousands of fans gathered to watch the Liverpool team and its staff travel through the city centre on an open-top bus with the Premier League trophy.

An eyewitness said the collision happened about 10 minutes after the bus carrying the Liverpool team had passed by, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The incident “cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day,” Liverpool city council leader Liam Robinson said on social media.

In the aftermath, a Reuters photographer saw emergency services carrying victims on stretchers to ambulances and debris scattered on the road.

Police were unusually quick to give a description of the man they arrested.

Dal Babu, a former chief superintendent in London’s Metropolitan Police, told the BBC this was an effort to cool social media speculation that the episode was an Islamist attack

The same police force oversaw the response to the murder of three young girls in the nearby town of Southport last year, an incident which sparked days of rioting, fuelled by speculation online over the identity of the attacker.

An eyewitness to Monday’s incident who gave her name as Chelsea told BBC Radio that people packed onto the street were only alerted to the danger by screams from the crowd. That enabled some to jump out of the way as the driver showed no sign of slowing.

“With the commotion, that was the only reason we looked up, and thankfully, looked up and managed to jump out (of) the way in time,” the woman said.

Liverpool last won the trophy during the COVID pandemic when celebrations were not permitted due to lockdowns.

A Reuters witness said that before the incident, there was disorder in the city centre where the parade was due to pass, with overcrowding and spectators confused by a lack of signage about street closures or where they should go.

“My thoughts are with all those injured or affected,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X, calling the scenes “appalling” and saying he was being updated about the events.

The team said on X it was in direct contact with police. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident,” Liverpool FC said.

-Reuters

 Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Team-by-team review of the 2024-25 Premier League season.

1 – LIVERPOOL

Arne Slot enjoyed a superb first season after replacing fan favourite Juergen Klopp, exceeding the hopes of supporters, many of whom would have been content with a top-four finish and a cup run.

Liverpool had the league sewn up long ago, thanks to a 26-game unbeaten league run as Arsenal faltered and Manchester City imploded, though one March week, when they were knocked out of Europe and lost the League Cup final, took some of the shine off.

The departure of local boy Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid also leaves big shoes to fill. But with the talismanic Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah tied down and further reinforcements to come, Liverpool are in a good position to prove this slightly surprising title was no one-off.

2 – ARSENAL

Mikel Arteta’s side are in danger of becoming the perennial nearly men as another season of rich promise slipped by without anything tangible to show for it.

Manchester City’s surprising decline should have opened the door for Arsenal to win a first league title since 2003, but instead, a third successive runners-up spot, this time by a huge margin, felt like regression.

They came close in the Champions League, losing a tight semi-final to Paris St Germain. But those two ties highlighted what Arsenal must address in the summer, chiefly a world-class striker to get them over the line.

3 – MANCHESTER CITY

Salvaged an otherwise poor season by clinching a Champions League berth with a 2-0 victory at Fulham on the final day.

Their hopes of a fifth successive league title began well but a mid-season nose-dive saw them fall off the pace and they missed a top-two spot for the first time since 2016-17.

Ballon d’Or winner Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in late September and would not return until the season’s penultimate game as they dropped as low as seventh in the table with manager Pep Guardiola saying the team’s crisis was costing him sleep.

They crashed out of the Champions League early and their FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace meant they ended the season with no silverware for the first time in eight years.

4 – CHELSEA

Chelsea left it late to achieve their target for the season by qualifying on the final day for the 2025/26 Champions League, thanks to a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

With more than 1 billion pounds ($1.35 billion) spent on players by the club’s U.S. owners since 2022, Enzo Maresca faced pressure in his first season as coach to get Chelsea back into Europe’s elite competition. The Blues were second in the Premier League in December before a poor run made a top-five finish a struggle.

Chelsea finished fourth and could yet win silverware with a UEFA Conference League final to come against Spain’s Real Betis on Wednesday. Failure to lift Europe’s third-tier trophy would be an embarrassment for the two-time Champions League winners.

5 – NEWCASTLE UNITED

Eddie Howe’s side ended a memorable season with their first domestic silverware for 70 years and a return to the Champions League.

Their 2-1 League Cup final win over Liverpool was a perfect representation of the Magpies this season, with the defence capping a fine collective performance with a goal from Dan Burn, and striker Alexander Isak showing the potency of their attack by notching the second.

With the mercurial Isak attracting attention from Premier League rivals and clubs around Europe, Howe will have to convince the Swedish international that they can take another step next season and challenge for the title.

6 – ASTON VILLA

Playing a swashbuckling style of football built on tough defence and fast attacks, Unai Emery’s side have had their fans in raptures at times this season but it ended in disappointment.

Runs to the Champions League quarter-finals and FA Cup semi-finals produced some great moments but they missed out on a top five spot on the last day with defeat at Manchester United.

Villa Park became a fortress in the Premier League with no defeats in their last 18 there and they also beat Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain on two famous European nights.

Emery’s squad oozes so much talent it is hard to pick out the main star: from charismatic World Cup-winning shot stopper Emiliano Martinez in goal to Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers up front with 17 and 14 goals respectively in all competitions.

7 – NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Boosted by the goals of striker Chris Wood, Nottingham Forest mounted an unlikely challenge for Champions League football, putting behind them successive relegation battles.

Despite being in the top three for much of the campaign, a late season slump in which they won two of their final eight games saw them finish in seventh to qualify for the Conference League, a return to European football for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo found the right formula for success with a solid defensive structure and an attack built around the play-making talent of Morgan Gibbs-White and 20 league goals from a rejuvenated Wood.

8 – BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

Brighton’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ persona this season will have been frustrating for fans as while their eighth-place finish represents a solid return under 32-year-old manager Fabian Huerzeler, they would have been higher up the table without the inconsistency that dogged them all campaign.

They managed wins against Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Chelsea, and drew twice with Arsenal, but a 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest was their worst league defeat in 67 years, and an eight-game winless run mid-season hurt their European chances.

Winger Yankuba Minteh proved an astute signing from Newcastle, and Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro all reached double figures for goals but, as ever, their challenge in the next transfer window will be holding on to their leading players, with the latter tipped for an exit.

9 – BOURNEMOUTH

Bournemouth missed out on Europe but Andoni Iraola’s team achieved a club-record points tally for a Premier League campaign as they punched above their weight.

In two years, Iraola has transformed the club, playing with a risky, high-intensity pressing style which earned them memorable wins over Manchester City and Arsenal this season.

Ryan Christie, Evanilson and Justin Kluivert have been central to Bournemouth’s progress this season, but the rise of youngsters like Real Madrid-bound Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez has been equally vital.

10 – BRENTFORD

The Bees flirted with a first foray into European club competition but eventually fell short after a season in which they proved unpredictable but highly entertaining.

Relegated Southampton and Ipswich were the only sides to concede more than Brentford at home, with the 35 goals the most they have let in at home in the topflight since the 1946-47.

But then only Manchester City, Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool scored more goals than Thomas Frank’s team this season, seeing them to 10th place.

Bryan Mbuemo netted 20 league goals and Yoan Wissa 19 while Danish international Mikkel Damsgaard was named both the Supporters’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year at the club’s end-of-season awards.

11 – FULHAM

Another solid season for Marco Silva’s side who spent the vast majority of the campaign in mid-table.

An 11th-placed finish, after coming 13th and 10th in the two previous seasons since Silva took them back into the Premier League, represents stability after some yo-yo years.

Losing to Crystal Palace at home in the FA Cup quarter-finals felt like a missed opportunity for the club and having established themselves in the top flight the key will be whether they can start aiming higher next season.

Raul Jimenez (12) and Rodrigo Muniz (8) provided the goals while Emile Smith Rowe thrived in midfield after moving from Arsenal.

12 – CRYSTAL PALACE

Palace’s victory in the FA Cup final over Manchester City secured their first major trophy in the club’s history and ensured this season will go down as their finest despite winning only one of their opening 13 league games.

They ended up with a club-record 53 Premier League points as manager Oliver Glasner moulded his team around the goals of talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta, the guile of Eberechi Eze and the pace and power of Ismaila Sarr.

Europa League football next season could help Palace keep hold of their prized assets.

13 – EVERTON

David Moyes and Beto proved the unlikely duo who turned around Everton’s season as another battle against relegation loomed as they languished one point above the drop zone with three wins from 19 games under the cautious Sean Dyche.

Moyes then returned after a 12-year absence and oversaw a remarkable nine-game unbeaten league run of four wins and five draws that ensured Everton would be in the top flight when they move into their new stadium next season.

Beto somehow reached double figures in goals, with fans overlooking his rawness while celebrating his whole-hearted, battling approach.

It helped that he scored against Liverpool, when James Tarkowski’s 98th-minute top-corner rocket in front of the Gwladys Street End to secure a 2-2 draw was the club’s moment of the season. There was still time for an emotional farewell to Goodison Park, the club’s home for 133 years, as the Toffees signed off with a win against Southampton.

14 – WEST HAM UNITED

A lacklustre season for the London club, whose decision to part ways with David Moyes and replace him with Julen Lopetegui always looked like ending unhappily.

Despite West Ham spending 130 million pounds on signings, Lopetegui’s style was bland and he was sacked after only 20 league games in charge, of which West Ham won only six.

Graham Potter’s impact has hardly been spectacular with five wins in 18, but he will be judged next season when he has been able to put his stamp on the team. Jarrod Bowen was again West Ham’s outstanding player with 13 league goals.

15 – MANCHESTER UNITED

United staggered through their worst season in the top-flight since they were relegated in 1974, and a massive rebuilding job awaits Ruben Amorim in the summer.

They jettisoned manager Erik ten Hag in October with United in 14th place, and if anything, they got worse under Amorim, who struggled to implement his style on a mediocre squad.

Even the salvation of a Europa League title was denied them as they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in a poor final in Bilbao and the lack of Champions League revenue will be a huge financial blow to a club already reeling from co-owner Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures.

16 – WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

Vitor Pereira secured top-flight status with five games to spare, overseeing a massive improvement after taking charge of the Midlands club in December when they were second-bottom.

In contrast to his predecessor Gary O’Neil’s tinkering, the Portuguese manager stuck to a settled formation, improving Wolves defensively and taking them on a six-game winning run in the top flight for the first time since 1970.

While their results tailed off with safety guaranteed, Wolves have shown they can challenge for a top-half finish next season, but they may have to deal with the loss of their top scorer with Matheus Cunha who is expected to leave in the summer.

17 – TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Ange Postecoglou delivered on his claim that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club as Spurs put aside a diabolical Premier League campaign to win the Europa League and end a 17-year silverware drought.

Whether or not that momentous night in Bilbao saves the pugnacious Australian’s job is another matter.

Twenty-two league defeats were embarrassing for a club with top-four pretensions. Postecoglou will point to a chronic run of injuries and the distraction of Europe as mitigating factors, but will need to convince the club’s hierarchy that it was an anomaly.

Strangely, Tottenham’s Europa League success was ultimately achieved by the opposite of so-called ‘Ange Ball’ — his team grinding through the knockout rounds to glory. The emergence of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray offer some hope of a better season next time while their unlikely Champions League qualification will be an easy sell to potential signings.

18 – LEICESTER CITY

The Foxes’ fate was sealed with five games to go and they make an immediate return to the Championship.

Leicester set an unwanted record as the first team in the top four divisions to lose nine consecutive home league games without scoring.

The die was cast early in the campaign with their failure to win any of their first six games. Manager Steve Cooper was sacked after 15 games with the team in 16th position, but turning to former Dutch international Ruud van Nistelrooy saw no improvement.

19 – IPSWICH TOWN

After successive promotions to return to the top flight it proved a bridge too far for Kieran McKenna’s side.

Four wins all season tell their own story, but despite their struggle, there is optimism that Ipswich will be in a strong position to challenge for promotion next season.

They will probably have to do that without their stand-out player, though as Liam Delap’s 12 league goals have attracted the attention of some of England’s top clubs.

20 – SOUTHAMPTON

Southampton were relegated with seven games to go in April, the earliest in Premier League history, but they at least avoided Derby County’s all-time low of 11 points from 2007–08 as they ended with 12.

Two different managers, Russell Martin and Ivan Juric, could do little to lift the team’s form and 30 defeats was a new Premier League record.

They conceded 86 goals in a torrid campaign and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale suffered his third relegation as a player but in truth it was his efforts that saved Saints from more humiliation as he made 125 saves, the second most in the league.

Will Still will be tasked with bringing them back up again.

-Reuters

  Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H