Over the past few seasons, there have not been many more impactful players in the Premier League than Bruno Fernandes.
Manchester United secured his services in January 2020 and he became an instant hit, scoring eight in 14 Premier League matches that season.
But down in London, one club would go on to watch Fernandes become a fan favourite through envious eyes.
That is because Tottenham were on the brink of signing the Portugal international from Sporting in the previous transfer window – only for the move to collapse.
Fernandes was left so angry by the failed transfer but he got his dream move in the end – to Old Trafford.
He told The Athletic in 2022: “Obviously I wanted to go to the Premier League.
“The manager, Mauricio Pochettino, was the one who wanted me there. It was a good offer but Sporting tried their best to keep me.
“The president (Frederico Varandas) spoke with me but he spoke with me on the wrong day.
“It was the day after they decided to refuse the offer from Tottenham and I was really angry. “Luckily for me, the manager (Marcel Keizer) was the right one at the right time. “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.”
And what a move it has turned out to be, instantly becoming a hero at United and one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Manager Erik ten Hag named the 28-year-old the club’s new captain, taking the armband off Harry Maguire in the process.
The midfielder takes the free-kicks, corners and penalties, and has a penchant for fantastic goals as well as possessing incredible vision.
In 185 games for United, Fernandes has scored 64 and assisted 54, and has helped the club finish in the top four in three of the four seasons he has been at Old Trafford. Tottenham, meanwhile, have clearly lacked a midfielder of such attacking output in that time period.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and Rodrigo Bentancur have their assets but do not come close to what Fernandes can do.
And several other midfielders have been snubbed in that meantime, including Yves Bissouma, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso.
However, with Ange Postecoglou in charge and the arrival of James Maddison, that might be all about to change.
