Manchester United’s summer transfer business was focused on signing forwards, before a deadline day deal for a goalkeeper.
The midfield position went unaddressed, while United also decided not to follow up on interest at the right wing-back position.
United spent time scouting Braga wing-back Roger Fernandes, who had emerged as a viable alternative to Chelsea-bound Geovany Quenda.
Portuguese newspaper O Jogo claimed that United regarded Fernandes as an ‘immense talent’ with potential similar to Quenda. The Red Devils even watched him at the European under-21 championships this summer.
But as transfer priorities shifted, Manchester United chose not to follow up on interest.
Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty ImagesRoger Fernandes signs for Al-Ittihad
Roger Fernandes has now left Braga to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £26 million.
Fabrizio Romano reports a deal has been agreed, with the transfer set to be concluded over the next 24 hours.
The move follows the shift in the Saudi Pro League to target younger players, with Roger Fernandes only 19-years-old.
🚨🟡⚫️ Roger Fernandes to Al Ittihad, here we go! Deal in place for fee over €30m as exclusively revealed.
Final details ahead of signatures in the next 24h. pic.twitter.com/aKcmnZm9UT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 3, 2025
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Manchester United shifted Amad to wing-back
Manchester United’s double capture of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo created a surplus of attacking midfielders at the club.
Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes can also play at the position, and this has left Amad shunted over to the wing-back position.
Amad is embracing the role he occasionally played last season, now competing with Diogo Dalot for the role.
But this does mean that United had no need to go and invest a further eight-figure fee in Roger Fernandes, who has now had to settle for a move to Saudi Arabia instead.