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Sporting CP vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha has said Manchester United were forced to match their €65 million (£54 million) valuation to purchase Bruno Fernandes but explained the Red Devils believed they could lower the asking price.
Zenha told Record (Liam Corless of the Manchester Evening News) United wanted to complete a €50 million (£41.5 million) swoop for the Portugal international. However, the Lions were successful in negotiating a higher price:
"I realised in the negotiations that Manchester United were convinced that we were going to give in and that for €50 million we would do the deal.