Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United’s midfielder, said that he was upset when Tottenham’s transfer in 2019 failed.
It worked out, though, as the former Sporting Lisbon midfielder joined the Red Devils in a deal worth up to £67.6million in January 2020.
However, SpursSporting turned down a bid to sign Portugal’s star four months before.
Fernandes acknowledges that he was initially frustrated at not being allowed to move to the Premier League, before his ‘dream club’ United came along.
He shared his story The Athletic: “Obviously I wanted to go to the Premier League. Mauricio Pochettino was the manager who wanted me to go. Although it was a great offer, Sporting did everything they could to keep me there.
“The president (Frederico Varandas) spoke with me but he spoke with me on the wrong day. It was the same day that they had rejected the offer from Tottenham. Lucky for me, Marcel Keizer, my manager was right at the right moment.
“At the beginning of January, my agent said, ‘You don’t need to worry, because any time I bring you a club, it will be a dream club for you’. He knew that the dream club was Man United.”
Besides a knack for goals and assists, Fernandes has developed a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most fiery characters.
Ex-Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decided to try and sign the Portugal midfielder after watching Sporting’s 2-1 defeat to Porto in January 2020.
Fernandes says that Solskjaer was persuaded by his constant moaning.
“Ole was a big part of that because he actually went to see my games. He saw me moaning a lot in that game against Porto — I moaned a lot against their players, against the referees,” Fernandes added.
“I moan against everyone who is against me, not those who are with me. Ole saw someone passionate, and that helped him sign me up for the club.
“On my first day, he said to me, ‘Just be yourself’. He said, ‘I know what you are capable of with the ball but I also want you to be the leader you have been at Sporting’.”
TalkSPORT allows you to watch the World Cup live.
At talkSPORT we are powered by fans, so come and join us for the ultimate World Cup fan experience this winter – at the TalkSPORT Fan Zone.
In a huge indoor venue under the arches at Waterloo in London, we’ll bring you live screenings of every World Cup game.
There will be Q&As with talkSPORT talent, you’ll be part of our live broadcasts, and there will be plenty of food and drink on offer too.
Come and enjoy the best World Cup fan experience in London – and enjoy a pint on us – with tickets for England and Wales’ group stage games on sale Get it now!
