Of all the January transfer dealings, it’s fair to say that Bruno Fernandes’ move to Manchester United was the biggest and most significant.
The Portuguese midfielder’s arrival not only ended a long-running saga but also got United the midfielder they desperately needed.
Much has already been written about Fernandes at Manchester United, with everything from where he will play, what he will bring to whether he’s a good signing all covered within an inch of their life.
There’s been little said about the impact on Sporting, though, with them relegated back to the background until they come to sell their next star player to the Premier League.
The newspaper explains that while Sporting have lost an ‘essential footballing value’, they have gained a ‘new lease of life’ financially.
Fernandes’ sale is a historic one for the club, even though they could have earned more if the situation was better at the club, and has given them the finances to enter a new cycle and build a new team for next season.
However, they also say it is essential to remember that while they have made a nice sum of money, they’ve lost something else in Fernandes; his standards.
Record say that not only was he ‘above average quality’ on the pitch but amid the turmoil, ‘indecisions and uncertainties’ he showed a ‘very high degree of professionalism’, something that will be sorely missed at the club.
While they mourn somewhat, United fans will surely be celebrating.
Not only have they just got the star midfielder they need, but it seems they’ve also got a player with the exact kind of attitude that’s required at Old Trafford as well.
