M. Fernandes Explains Why He Chose Tottenham Over Manchester United! Insists His Move Was Not Just About Money, and Spurs Valued Him More

Manchester United had been in talks for Matheus Fernandes for months, but he eventually chose to move to Tottenham Hotspur for £85 million. This enraged United supporters, who blasted the 21-year-old as money-driven and short on ambition, with some even hoping he would suffer a third Premier League relegation in a row.

Nevertheless, insiders say Fernandes insists his decision was not based on financial gain. Word from Jorge Mendes's camp at West Ham United indicated that the club would not lower their asking price, meaning Manchester United's pressure tactics would fail. As United refused to match the fee, the deal seemed doomed, leaving Fernandes to consider his future and accept Tottenham's offer.

According to "IEAMtalk," Fernandes told Manchester United that his choice to join Tottenham was not solely about money. Those familiar with the negotiations revealed that a key factor in his decision was his faith in manager Roberto De Zerbi's future plans.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed this account: "Tottenham will pay a fixed fee of £85 million for Fernandes, with no add-ons. Manchester United only considered reaching West Ham's desired amount through variables. Another crucial element: De Zerbi personally called the player multiple times to convince him to agree to the move."

Tom Allnutt of *The Times* also noted that Fernandes was completely won over by De Zerbi and the specific development plan Tottenham had crafted for him. The plan reportedly promises to make Fernandes the midfield orchestrator, integrated into Spurs' new tactical system. It remains unclear whether De Zerbi intends to deploy him as a No. 6, No. 8, or No. 10.

Furthermore, Tottenham's willingness to pay £85 million—a club-record fee—demonstrated their serious commitment to the player. This surpasses the previous record of £65 million paid for Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth by a full £20 million.

No matter how angry Manchester United fans may be, they have to admit that from Fernandes's perspective, Tottenham showed him greater respect. Therefore, despite De Zerbi's team having no European qualification next season, Fernandes agreed to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium rather than waiting for United.

A month ago, Fernandes had indeed been leaning toward joining Manchester United, with Old Trafford offering Champions League nights next season and a club captain who is his idol, Bruno Fernandes. However, the reality of the situation and the arrangements made by super-agent Jorge Mendes changed his mind.

This scenario should be familiar to Manchester United, as they themselves employed a similar strategy two years ago to snatch Leny Yoro from Real Madrid. The 20-year-old French center-back had just one year left on his contract and dreamed of joining Real Madrid, who planned to pressure Lille into a €20 million low-cost deal. United swooped in with a staggering €62 million bid plus £145,000 per week in wages, successfully persuading Mendes and Yoro to agree.

This time, Tottenham's offer to Fernandes was indeed better than United's, allowing them to exact revenge for losing the race for Bryan Mbeumo to United last year. Mendes's team also highlighted the advantages of living in London over Manchester, emphasizing that Fernandes was looking at the long-term future, not just the immediate presence of the Champions League.

All of this may amount to public relations spin from the clubs and the player, but the deal is done—right or wrong no longer matters. What counts now is how Manchester United identify their next target and push to complete a transfer as soon as possible. It is already July, close to the start of summer training, and a new fiscal year has begun; transfer business needs to accelerate.