The Manchester United star was a man in demand, with Tottenham eager to bring the playmaker to the Premier League, only for the deal to fall through
Bruno Fernandes was left in tears after his dream move to Tottenham fell through in the summer of 2019.
The now Manchester United captain had been desperate for Sporting Lisbon to strike a deal with the club so he could fulfil his ambition of playing in the Premier League. Fernandes, who had made a name for himself as one of Europe’s leading playmakers, was seen as the missing piece to Spurs‘ jigsaw.
That was after the North London side reached the Champions League final under Mauricio Pochettino only to lose to Liverpool in Madrid, with Fernandes identified as a player who could have been been key in helping them finally win silverware, but chairman Daniel Levy didn’t get a deal over the line.
Tottenham were believed to have agreed on a fee for Fernandes, but couldn’t nail down the payment structure, leaving the Portuguese midfielder to stay put for another six months, reports the Express.
In January 2020, Fernandes made the switch to United, and quickly became a fan favourite at Old Trafford, with a £60million transfer that has since seen him become one of the few shining lights in a struggling Red Devils side, despite question marks over his suitability for the role of captain.
However, before his success at United, he was reportedly devastated when his transfer to Spurs didn’t materialise, allegedly shedding tears in his chairman’s office upon learning the deal was off.An insider familiar with the events lamented to the Daily Mail: “That felt a bit typical at the time,” adding: “When push came to shove, the club didn’t get it done. Then the same thing happened with Luis Diaz at Porto. He ended up at Liverpool.”Fernandes, 30, has racked up 259 appearances for United, netting 85 goals and delivering 76 assists. Known for his outspoken leadership and fiery on-pitch persona, Fernandes has divided opinion among pundits and fans.
He took over the captain’s armband from Harry Maguire at the start of the 2023-24 season. He was one of the few shining lights under Erik ten Hag and developed a strong rapport with the Dutch manager. The United No. 8 even suggested he and his team-mates should shoulder some of the blame for Ten Hag’s dismissal in October.It’s still uncertain how Fernandes will fit into Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation in the long run. He’s been deployed as a central midfielder in a double pivot, and as one of the two No.10s behind the centre-forward.Neither role seems to be a perfect match for Fernandes, but it’s clear that he views his failed move to Spurs as a pivotal moment. He’s been United’s standout player for five years.