Bruno Fernandes: United ace makes bold claim about Cristiano Ronaldo | OneFootball

Bruno Fernandes has opened up on his admiration for four former Manchester United players. The Portuguese has arguably been one of the best in the Premier League in his position ever since arriving at Old Trafford in January 2020.

The Red Devils have been home to some of the finest midfielders in the world over the years. While they now boast of a trident comprising of Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Fernandes, the English giants are preparing for a summer revamp.

The Brazilian is all set to leave as a free agent at the end of this season, and United are in the market for his replacement. Meanwhile, the Red Devils are also working on Mainoo’s renewal, and reportedly have Fernandes’ extension on their agenda as well.

The Portuguese has been in red-hot form this season, scoring eight goals and setting up 17 more in 30 games. He recently won the Premier League Player of the Month for March but his contract expires in the summer of 2027.

Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

The Portuguese midfielder is already an Old Trafford legend after becoming only the third player to score 100 goals and register 100 assists for the club after Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs. Fernandes has now revealed the former United players he respects the most.

Looking up to Cristiano Ronaldo and his incredible homecoming

Speaking recently to the club’s media, Fernandes revealed that former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo is a player he really looks up to. He said: “Cristiano is an easy one for me. He is Portuguese and everyone from 2000 – I was born in 1994 – from that age upwards, everyone was looking at him and seeing him.”

Ronaldo arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2003 and transformed into one of the world’s best under Sir Alex Ferguson’s tutelage. He left in 2009 to join Real Madrid, before a brief stint with Juventus, and made a fairytale return to the Theatre of Dreams in the summer of 2021.

Fernandes went on to add that Old Trafford was bouncing when their prodigal son wore the coveted shirt for the second time. He said: “He won the Ballon d’Or with the club, which was something very special. All the fans here, when he came back, will never forget that day, when he comes back against Newcastle.”

“It was an unforgettable day, he comes back, scores two goals and looks like he never left and everything. The atmosphere in the stadium was crazy that day, probably the best one I have experienced. Just the fact of Cristiano coming back, not the rest, but what was created around that, him getting into the pitch, the way he was presented, everything gives goosebumps still to me.”

Fernandes hails legendary trio

Fernandes also hailed club legends Paul Scholes and Roy Keane, and reserved special praise for caretaker manager Michael Carrick. He said: “Obviously, I think, at the club, for me, luckily the club had a lot of good midfielders to look up to.”

“I think, from my time, probably I would say Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were the main pillars of the team. Then later on, I would say, not because he’s my manager now, but I have said this before already, Michael Carrick is someone I would have loved to play together with. Just because I have trained with him, when he was with Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] at the time.”

“Sometimes, he would come to the pitch and train with us and his quality of pass between the lines, breaking the lines, is something unbelievable. For a no.10, how quick a midfielder can be to control the ball and pass it forward, it will give you time and space to think about either control it or flick it, to make a decision. He was always on my team [in training] and I think these were the kind of players.”

Fernandes was quick to point out former skipper Keane’s work-rate, desire and aggressiveness as qualities that endeared him to fans. The Portuguese continued: “You talk about work-rate and players who did the most of themselves for the club and Roy Keane resembles that.”

“The fans always looked up to him, he had that desire to win and aggressiveness that Manchester United players should have. He was someone who was always looking to defend them [his team-mates]. These players are probably the ones for me.”

Final Thoughts

Fernandes has already done enough to deserve a place among Old Trafford greats. United, as such, must speed up his renewal process and ensure that the Portuguese continues to entertain fans

Featured image Ryan Pierse via Getty Images

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