Giacomo Gattuso was Bruno Fernandes’ coach at Novara and has given an interview to Italian outlet TMW about the Manchester United superstar.
It’s clear that he stood out even back in 2012 and 2013, when the Portuguese midfielder was just starting his professional career.
Gattuso says he’s never coached another player as good as Fernandes and that his desire to improve set him apart.
He paints a picture very similar to the player we see today; obsessed with improving and never settling for second best.
“I have seen other talents along my path, but there is (no-one) that matches (his) technical quality,” said Gattuso when asked if he’s ever worked with another player as good as Bruno. “It is difficult to find.
“He had the personality of a real player on the pitch. At the first training session I saw that… he was really superior and you could see from the way he touched the ball.
“A boy who from the first day wanted to be a real footballer, tried to improve himself in every training session. Today he is an important player in one of the most important teams in the world.
“The result of (someone) who is not satisfied and wants to improve. I often hear his interviews and every time he speaks with great humility. And I understand perfectly why he ended up where he has.”
United have signed plenty of talented footballers since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, but it’s Bruno’s personality which makes him stand out.
He came into a middling, struggling team halfway through last season and was not intimidated by the responsibility.
He thrived on it and has dragged the whole club forward with him. It seems like he had that desire right from when he broke through as a youngster.
Bruno’s latest task is to try and extend United’s Europa League run when he returns to Italy tonight to face Milan.
- Analysing how Marcus Rashford performed in England’s 6-4 win over France
- Lisandro Martinez has never taken penalty in his whole career, but this is what he could do in World Cup final
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have once again been vindicated with major Man Utd call, despite Wrexham defeat
- 14 things I liked and disliked from Man Utd vs Wrexham pre-season opener
- Andrey Santos delivered exactly what Michael Carrick could have hoped for in Man Utd against Wrexham
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
