DEDICATED FOLLOWER OF PASSION

Woodward knew fiery Fernandes had right style to be perfect fit at United

- BY JEREMY CROSS

BRUNO FERNANDES might well be the best signing Manchester United have made in the last decade.

Fernandes, who has been inspirational for United since arriving in 2020 from Sporting Lisbon, will make his 300th appearance this weekend when Ruben Amorim’s side host Brighton at Old Trafford.

But the landmark occasion might never have happened had certain individuals at United panicked over a video of Fernandes losing his temper.

Here is the story of how United lured the Portuguese international to Old Trafford, a move which involved countless phone calls, a private jet, red carpet and getting the better of Barcelona.

Fernandes came onto United's radar in 2018, having emerged as one of the brightest talents in the Primeira Liga.

In September of that year, United's recruitment department, along with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, decided the midfielder would be targeted the following summer.

The problem was, Sporting didn't want to sell Fernandes, resulting in the Portuguese club refusing to name a price.