Bruno Fernandes came into the consciousness of Manchester United supporters around the summer 2019 transfer window, with the club having registered their interest in the player the previous February.
Despite denials coming from Old Trafford about a desire for the midfielder, it was clear something was happening. The Premier League club had scouts at every Sporting match, so if they weren’t interested in Fernandes it would have been a shock.
Taking the Lisbon club on his back, the Portugal international was as close to a one-man team as it comes, and provided a bright spark for Sporting during a difficult period.
Before signing for the Liga NOS club, Fernandes spent a season with Sampdoria where he enjoyed mixed success.
Quoted by SampNews24, Viviano said: “I was one of the few who supported him… Bruno has always had everything, only that when he arrived in Italy and he lacked tactics and intensity. He learned it and now he has exploded, also because he has everything: right, left, technique but also an incredible run. He is a technical leader, what Manchester United perhaps lacked.”
Since arriving in English football, Bruno Fernandes has certainly shown that he has a lot of what Manchester United were missing, and it’s now hard to think of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side being without their star player.
