Four months ago, we were covering the Bruno Fernandes saga, reporting how hard Sporting were fighting to take each extra million from Manchester United.
The clubs ended up finding a deal for the midfielder to move for €55m, with another possible €25m to be paid due to add-ons.
Perhaps Sporting were lucky not to hold out any longer before selling the star, because according to their own president, Bruno Fernandes would be worth a lot less these days.
Frederico Varandas has been interviewed by Portuguese outlet RTP today, and speaking of the transfer market, he used the 24-year-old as an example of how the numbers could have a dramatic change in the coming months.
“The crisis caused by Covid-19 harms the European football industry in general, but, of all countries, Portugal is the most affected, because fifty percent of revenues come from the sale of players,” Frederico Varandas told RTP.
“Bruno Fernandes, for example? He was sold for €65m in January. Today, what would he be worth? Maybe €20m? €30m? Nobody knows.”
Sporting are currently in a legal dispute with Sampdoria over part of the money from Bruno Fernandes’ transfer. On Wednesday, the Lions released an official statement saying they’re not paying the Italian side 10% of the profit they made when selling the player to Manchester United.
Despite the agreement the clubs had for it, Sporting believe that was cancelled when Fernandes rescinded his contract with them and signed a new one in 2018. FIFA are now set to judge the case.
What Varandas has to gain by talking down the value of players in Portugal is unclear.
