Bruno Fernandes wanted assurances from Manchester United over the club's future before he signed his new contract.
Fernandes penned a fresh deal with the club in April of last year, keeping him at Old Trafford until at least 2026.
The midfielder has been a key man for United since arriving from Sporting CP in 2020, scoring 38 goals and registering 28 assists in 104 Premier League appearances.
But his time at the club has come during a tumultuous period, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked early last season and interim boss Ralf Rangnick coming in to take over the remainder of the campaign, before Erik ten Hag was announced as the new manager from the start of this term.
Fernandes revealed that, prior to signing his extension, he spoke to football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher after becoming disillusioned with the club's progress.
"I had a conversation last year with the club when everyone knew that Ralf was not the coach for the future," the Portugal international said. "I said I want to be a solution for the club, I want to be helpful for the club, but I also want to know where we are going.
"Is there a plan? Is there a future? This was before I signed my new contract because I said to the club, obviously money is important, no one can hide that, you always want to have the best for yourself.
"But at that time, for me I said 'I'm on good money, I don't want a new contract without knowing that we have a good future in the club'.
"I want to know where we are going. I want to know just as a club, do you think we have a future? Do you have a plan for the future? What are your thoughts on where we can go? What does the club want?
"Does the club want to achieve trophies or does the club want to build something to go to the Champions League? Because for me, that's not enough and the club demands more, the history of this club, the quality of the players we have, it demands more than just being here and fighting for fourth place.
"The club has said they have a plan, this is what they want, we agree with you that the level of the club has to be better than it has been in the past."
Ten Hag's arrival has brought new-found positivity for United's future, with the former Ajax boss overcoming a tough start to lead his team into fourth in the Premier League as they look to finish the campaign in the Champions League qualification spots.
United are also the only English club left to be fighting on four fronts, with the Red Devils still bidding for silverware in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and the Europa League alongside their Premier League exploits.
Fernandes has not won a trophy since joining United, but he remains hopeful he can break that duck this season, explaining: "I came to the club and my aim is winning trophies, because I know how big this club is and I know how big we can still be and achieve good things and big things.
"We don't have to win all the trophies, but we have to fight for the trophies and as a club and the quality of players, we have the quality to do that and we've been showing that, so I just want to know if this is the future.
"Now probably you can see a team that has a way to play that convinces the fans, convinces the players, it is the right one and one that can win games. You go to every game and the feeling you have now is that we are not afraid to play against anyone."
New York Red Bulls v Vancouver Whitecaps: Facing Eastern Conference teams ‘like going to the casino’
Vanni Sartini is anticipating a tight encounter when his Vancouver Whitecaps team face the New York Red Bulls.
Vancouver have enjoyed a fine start to the MLS season and sit second in the Western Conference.
The Red Bulls, meanwhile, are in second place in the East.
This game will be the first meeting of the teams since 2019, and Sartini joked that facing sides from a different Conference is akin to a trip to a casino.
He said: “It’s going to be hard. It’s like going to the casino when you play the Eastern teams – you never know!
“Maybe you’ll face the team in last, the team that’s in first place. Unfortunately this season we’re going to play the Red Bulls, who are doing very well.”
Explaining what he expects to see from the Red Bulls, Sartini added: “They’re a team with a very distinct and particular style of play, like we have, to be honest.
“We need to be very intense, because that’s what they are, they are very intense in pressing, counter-pressing, counter-attacks and we need to be very well organised. It’s a game that will be decided in the second half, it’s going to be tight until the end – that’s what I feel.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York Red Bulls – Lewis Morgan
Morgan is enjoying a fine campaign, and he leads the Red Bulls’ scoring efforts with six goals in MLS.
Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White
White joined the ‘Caps from the Red Bulls in 2021. He has scored four goals in MLS this season, making him Vancouver’s leading scorer.
MATCH PREDICTION: NEW YORK RED BULLS WIN
Ryan Gauld and White have each contributed to at least one goal in their last five MLS appearances, equalling the longest streak in Whitecaps’ history. Prior to them, only three players in team history had recorded a goal contribution in five straight matches.
With 16 points through eight matches, the Whitecaps are off to the joint-best eight-match start in club history (also 2015). Vancouver have never had more than 17 points (2012) after nine matches of a season before.
The Red Bulls have lost only one of their first nine matches this season (W4 D4), the second time in club history they have had fewer than two losses at this stage of a season, along with their Supporters’ Shield winning 2015 campaign (also W4 D4 L1).
Six of the 12 all-time meetings between the Red Bulls and Whitecaps have been drawn (Whitecaps W4, Red Bulls W2), but New York are anticipated to win this one.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
NYRB – 48.9%
Vancouver Whitecaps – 23.3%
Draw – 27.8%
Brazil legend Marta to retire from international football
Brazil star Marta has announced she will retire from international football at the end of 2024.
The 38-year-old is the all-time highest scorer for Brazil, netting 116 goals in 175 matches for the national team.
She is also the top-scorer in the Women’s World Cup with 17 goals, finishing as a runner-up in 2007 when Brazil lost in the final to Germany.
The forward has won three Copa America Femenina titles and was part of the Brazil team that won silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
Marta could make her sixth appearance for Brazil at this year's Games if she is selected in the squad at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"If I go to the Olympics, I will enjoy every moment, because, regardless of whether I go to the Olympics or not, this is my last year with the national team," Marta told CNN in an interview on Thursday.
"There will be no more Marta from 2025 in the national team as an athlete.
"I am very calm about this because I see with great optimism this development that we are having in relation to young athletes."
Al Hilal 3-1 Al Fateh: Neves on target as Saudi giants close in on title
Al Hilal moved 12 points clear of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr at the top of the Saudi Pro League as Ruben Neves scored in a 3-1 win over Al Fateh on Friday.
Former Wolves star Neves slotted in from the penalty spot in the 74th minute, as Al Hilal completed a rapid comeback.
Having fallen behind to Lucas Zelarayan's 57th-minute opener, Al Hilal responded swiftly through Micheal before Salem Al Najdi fouled Mohammed Al Qahtani in the penalty area.
Ex-Barcelona winger Cristian Trello and Al Fateh coach Slaven Bilic were booked for their complaints, with Neves making no mistake, paving the way for Ali Al Bulayhi to seal victory in the 15th minute of an extended period of stoppage time.
Data Debrief
Al Hilal have now won 21 games on the spin in the league. They have scored 86 goals across their 28 matches this season, winning 26 in total.
They had 19 shots on Friday, accumulating 2.34 xG to Al Fateh's 0.25, with pass-master Neves creating three chances to go along with his goal.
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