Manchester United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, has identified players from Arsenal and Manchester City as his two most challenging opponents.
Having made the switch to the Premier League from Sporting CP in January 2020 for a potential fee of £67.6 million, Fernandes has become a pivotal figure for Manchester United.
His significance to the team was evident, leading to his appointment as club captain by Erik ten Hag, after frequently donning the captain’s armband last season.
With 124 Premier League appearances and a total of 77 goal contributions under his belt, Fernandes has truly thrived in the English top flight.
But the former Udinese man has revealed the players he found most difficult to play against.
His first selection was N’Golo Kante, who was constantly at his heels and covering every blade of grass at Chelsea, while he also praised Rodri and Arsenal’s £105 million record signing Declan Rice, believing them to be “really similar”.
“It is a difficult one,” Fernandes toldSky Sportsas part of a Saturday Social feature.
“In the Premier League, you play against top, top players. I can tell you [N’Golo] Kante was difficult, Rodri is really difficult, Declan Rice is really difficult.
“Declan and Rodri are physically really similar. Kante is more small but quick and sharp. But there are many players because we play in the best league in the world so you get to play against the best players.”
Fernandes saw Rice’s quality up close and personal during off-season training at ‘The Campus’, a luxury sports complex in the Algarve, Portugal.
On Monday night, the 28-year-old will wear the United armband for the first time in a competitive match since being named permanent skipper as the Red Devils host Wolves.
“I don’t try to be the captain, I try to be just as I am,” Fernandes answered when asked what kind of captain he is.
“Obviously you know you have some responsibilities as a captain but the way I will act will be the way Bruno is, not how Bruno is a captain.
“It’s a big privilege. The thing that comes in your mind is look at the past of this club, look at the captains and how many trophies they’ve lifted.
“It makes you aware of what kind of captain I want to be, one that lifts trophies.”
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