The signing of Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United has been an impressive one so far. It is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s best yet, despite the success of his others, and while he has helped United tremendously in establishing a good run of form on the pitch, Bruno Fernandes offers Manchester United a lot off the field too.
Bruno Fernandes’ Impact at Manchester United
What Fernandes Offers Manchester United on the Pitch
Fernandes is an exceptionally talented player. He joined when the Red Devils were in a bad patch of form and had an immediate impact. Since his debut, United have not lost a match. He already has four assists and three goals to his name, having appeared nine times in a United shirt and won the Premier League player of the month for February.
He has transformed a United side which was crying out for creativity before his arrival and has formed great bonds with many players too. While he has greatly impacted them on the pitch, his influence has also been excellent off the pitch.
Off the Pitch Influence
Fernandes has done many things for United off the pitch. One of these is the improvement of other players.
Helping Other Players
It is clear that Fernandes has developed a great bond with many of United’s players. Anthony Martial looks rejuvenated when playing with the Portuguese international, and his arrival has coincided with a drastic improvement, both of the team as a whole and for individuals.
Luke Shaw has made one of the most notable improvements since Fernandes’ arrival. While he looked to be beyond his best in mid-season, almost unrecognizable from the player who won United’s player of the season last campaign, the Englishman has stepped up his form since the end of January. He has shown great quality when playing either in his natural left-back position or as a left-sided centre-back in a back five.
It is clear that players believe that he has been a fantastic addition as well. Diogo Dalot, who is another player to have developed a great bond with Fernandes, said recently that “he’s a top guy, a top player. He is going to be a legend, no doubt about that”.
Fernandes’ arrival has accompanied a great spike in form. This is due to a number of things, but one, in particular, is that players love to play with great players. He has had a great influence on the team, forming strong bonds with others, and this may have helped United in another way too.
Convincing Pogba to Stay
While nothing is certain yet, leaks have recently suggested that Paul Pogba, who seemed almost certain to be leaving Manchester last summer, could stay, and even sign a new contract. The Frenchman has struggled with a reoccurring ankle injury this season, yet his recovery will likely happen before the Premier League’s resumption.
Although Pogba seemed set to leave in the summer, Fernandes and his influence on the team may have convinced him to stay. United have recently shown that they can play like a top team, and seeing this promise could be a decisive factor in Pogba’s decision to stay or go.
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