Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes (born 8 September 1994) is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Portugal national team as a midfielder. Fernandes started his career at Serie B side Novara Calcio and soon featured for Udinese and Sampdoria in Serie A.
In 2017, he signed with Sporting CP where he established himself as one of the best players in the Primeira Liga. He was named the LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year in both 2017–18 and 2018–19. In the latter season, he also helped Sporting win the Taça de Portugal. A senior international since 2017, Fernandes represented Portugal at the 2016 Summer Olympics and 2018 FIFA World Cup.
For all the pearl-clutching and outcry that has swirled around Bruno Fernandes over the past week, many seem to have forgotten just how important he is to Manchester United.
Few signings have had the immediate impact, especially mid-season, that Fernandes had when he finally arrived at Old Trafford in January 2020 and though there was a lull last season when every single player struggled to show any semblance of their best form in a dire campaign, he has roared back to his best this year.
Erik ten Hag immediately recognised his qualities and made him a fulcrum of the side. While Marcus Rashford has rightly stolen the headlines with his remarkable success in front of goal and new signings Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen have received a lot of credit for United's transformation, Fernandes has continued to be the driving force.
The Portuguese has 20 goal contributions in 41 matches, is the second-highest scorer and is capable of pulling decisive moments out of the hat even when United are below their best. ALSO READ: Harry Kane earmarked as Manchester United's prime striker target When pundits were mourning the lost sanctity of the United captain's armband and calling for Fernandes' head on a spike after the defeat to Liverpool, it was quickly forgotten how selfless he has been in recent weeks.
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