The Portugal midfielder completed a £67.7m move to Old Trafford in January 2020 after three successful years at Sporting Lisbon.
Fernandes has been one of the few recent United signings to impress, scoring 79 goals in 232 appearances and even captaining the side since July 2023.
The 29-year-old has been linked with a move away from Manchester United ahead of this summer’s transfer window but says he wants to stay at the club.
Things could have been very different for Fernandes and United had a move to another Premier League club not fallen through in 2019.
Fernandes was in talks with Tottenham that summer and admits he was ‘excited’ at the prospect of playing for Spurs before the deal ‘fell apart’.
‘The previous summer, there were some rumours about Premier League clubs being interested in me, but the only thing that was concrete was Tottenham,’ Fernandes told The Players’ Tribune.
‘It feels weird to me now, but at the time, I was excited. One of my life goals was to play in the Premier League.
‘I tried to block out all the noise, but in the age we are living in, with social media and phones and text, of course my friends let me know about the rumours.
‘As a kid from Portugal, you can’t help but dream a bit about playing at the big grounds in England. In the end, the clubs couldn’t reach an agreement, and the deal fell apart.
‘It was a complicated emotion, but I was really happy at Sporting. I felt the love of the fans, and it was a fantastic place for me. But it was not my destiny.’
Fernandes has continued to contribute at Manchester United despite the team’s struggles this season, making 25 goal involvements in all competitions.
United recorded their lowest-ever Premier League finish under Erik ten Hag and will look to end a dismal season on a high when they face Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
It was recently suggested that the Wembley showpiece event could be Fernandes’ last game for United, with several clubs expressing interest in signing the Portuguese star this summer.
But Fernandes ‘doesn’t want to leave’ Manchester United, though he warned the club need to start meeting his ‘expectations’ as he prepares for a season without European football.
‘I love to step out at Old Trafford more than anything in the world,’ he added. ‘I don’t want to leave. This has always been my ultimate dream.
‘I just want my expectations to fit with the expectations of the club. If you go talk to any fan, they will tell you the same thing. We want to compete for the league.
‘We want to be playing Champions League football. We want to be in cup finals. That is the standard. That is what I want.’
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