BRUNO FERNANDES has opened up on how he “convinced”;; he was destined to join Tottenham.
take on ‘ in the
But in another reality, the 30-year-old could have been
Six months before a January transfer window deal took Fernandes to from for £47million, Spurs were deep in discussions to sign the midfielder.
There had been five meetings between the two parties with Fernandes’ camp left impressed by their structure and Sporting all set to accept the bid.
Of the talks, a source involved in the talks told the BBC: “They were absolutely next level when it comes to detail.
Even the rooms at the training ground – each one was decorated just like the players’ bedrooms at home, the ones they share with their partners.
“The bed was exactly the same. Even the flowers in the garden gave off a scent that’s meant to be beneficial – it was mind-blowing.”;;
However, the deal fell through when the Sporting board decided to hold out for an offer twice the size which ultimately never arrived, before selling to Rennes instead.
Indeed, Fernandes had been so convinced he would be leaving that when club president Frederico Varandas tried to explain the situation he told him to go away.
In an : “It was the team that wanted me the most and was the only one I agreed to talk with, because there were other clubs that didn’t interest me or whose project was not up to my expectations.
“Tottenham fit into everything I wish I had at that moment. It is an appealing championship. Knowing that Tottenham would be willing to pay for me and make every possible effort to take me, leaves a player eager to take that step.”;;
But five years later, the .
In the last five years, no outfield player has made more appearances (288) or played more minutes (24,747) across ‘s top five leagues than Fernandes.
has almost single-handedly kept the team afloat this season with 19 goals and 19 assists in all competitions.
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That includes 12 goal contributions in the , featuring a hat-trick in the last-16 against Real Sociedad, a penalty in the 5-4 win at Old Trafford over and a brace in against Athletic Bilbao.
Earlier this month, he had said: “The manager and physio say that I need to relax and rest, but I say no. When I die, I will have a lot of time to lay down and rest.”;;
Fernandes is one of five players still at Man Utd who was in the matchday squad when the club fell to defeat on penalties against in the final in 2021.
He, and all started the game under then boss , while and were unused subs with the latter missing the clash through injury.
Man Utd have lost to Spurs three times this season – twice in the Prem and once in the – but have the chance to salvage the club’s worst-ever Premier League finish with a European trophy and a spot in next season’s .
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