Bruno Fernandes is raining all the praise just one year after his signing for Manchester United. A few days ago he admitted in an interview that he had cried when it was confirmed that one of the great Englishmen was betting on him, after a long time waiting and many frustrated attempts. But its impact could not have been greater. In one year no other Premier League player has been nominated best player of the match more times and that is because no one has been involved in more goals since he arrived at the Premier.
Fernandes's is a lesson in the market and how to break down various taboos in a year. Just four years ago the player was in Sampdoria with a market value of 7 million, according to Transfermarkt. But when he arrived at Sporting, he made a qualitative leap to which many put buts. The fact that Sporting was not a club capable of competing to the end with Porto and Benfica and that it had not won the league since 2002, changed the image that the big clubs had of it, despite the wonders that in Portugal counted. Fernandes was seen as the last inflated balloon of Portuguese football, the Portuguese scam on duty.
The rumors of an exit to a great did not stop, but at the moment of truth no one wanted to bet on him. He was not taken into account because he did not play in the Champions League and was not on the Benfica or Porto squad. Close sources relate how he was even mistrusted when, due to the altercation with the Sporting ultras, like other players in the team, he unilaterally terminated his contract and was free. But, after knocking on the door of important clubs, none wanted to sign him in case in the end FIFA forced him to pay for a transfer. Something that contrasts with what United later paid and what Tottenham did not want to put.
Bruno Fernandes, after signing peace with Sporting, returned and was appointed captain after the marches of Rui Patricio and William Carvalho. He continued to show that he could be the subject of a great transfer, but Sporting asked too much for what was expected of him, the market leaders dictated. The Lisbon club did not enjoy the prestige of Porto and Benfica and asking for more than 40 million for it was classified as crazy by many interested clubs. Ultimately it was his highest transfer in history.
What's more, Tottenham, finally, before United appeared on the scene. The price for the London club was 45 million, it seemed that he was going to pay it, but at the last moment he did not want to do it and Pocchetino preferred Lo Celso. The rest is history. United came to pay 55 in an impressive undercut by Jorge Mendes and his agent Miguel Pinho, who finished convincing Woodward. Chen United signed him for 55 million, his market value was 48. Today he is 90 and his impact on the team has been greater than Pogba caused. Bruno Fernandes has taught the market a lesson.