Manchester United took a long time to get a deal for Bruno Fernandes over the line. But what a deal it has proved to be.
Such has been the Portuguese’s impact since arriving at Old Trafford, it is inconceivable to think of Fernandes as anything other than a United player.
In short, the midfielder has United DNA.
Plenty of players in the past have hit the ground running at the Red Devils. But only a few have been instant and devastating successes. And that is the bracket in which the 25-year-old finds himself.
Fernandes looks ready-made for a United shirt. He has the confidence, the talent and that spark of magic only the very best players can call on.
But it is more than that. Because some of the world’s best have come to United only to falter.
It takes more than talent to be a United superstar. And whatever that is, Fernandes has it in abundance.
United ultimately sealed a £67.7million move (BBC) in January, leaving many supporters to wonder what took Ed Woodward so long.
This is a footballer like few others. He is arguably the closest player United have had to Eric Cantona since the Frenchman strutted his stuff.
Return of the King
Cantona scored 64 goals in 143 appearances for United but he was so much more than a goal-scorer.
But what Cantona did, as much as anything else, was light the touchpaper for a sustained period of success.
United need that fire to burn again and Fernandes seems the man to do it.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs a catalyst and the Portugal star looks like the perfect fit.
Some United fans argue that Fernandes should have come a lot sooner. But he arrived eventually and let’s be grateful for that.
The thought of Solskjaer not signing Fernandes is simply inconceivable considering he was arguably the most United player not to be wearing the shirt until he arrived.
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