Bruno Fernandes turned down Porto's academy because Boavista would drive him to training
As a boy in Maia, Bruno Fernandes had an offer from Porto's academy, but his parents could not ferry him there every day. Boavista offered transport, so he went there instead, starting as a centre-back. Years later he became Manchester United's captain and set a Premier League record with 21 assists in one season.
Boavista converted him into an attacking midfielder at 15, and at 17 he left for Novara in Italy's second tier in August 2012. Homesick and struggling with Italian, he settled once his girlfriend joined him, and within weeks he was in the first team, earning nicknames such as the Maradona of Novara. He spurned interest from Inter and Juventus in 2013 for Udinese, where playing time was promised, and later spent a season at Sampdoria. He also refused to join his father in Switzerland as a child, unimpressed by the standard of Swiss football.
Sporting paid a reported €8.5 million for him in 2017, and the move looked like a bargain. He was named the Primeira Liga's player of the year twice and in 2018-19 scored 33 goals, a record for a Portuguese midfielder and the most by any midfielder in Europe that season, the last of them in the cup final against Porto. His renewed contract carried a €100 million release clause.
Manchester United signed him in January 2020 for an initial €55 million, with up to €25 million more in add-ons. His first June at the club brought Player of the Month and Goal of the Month together, a Premier League first. When United announced plans to join the European Super League in April 2021, he was the first player in the proposed league to speak against it, saying dreams cannot be bought; the club pulled out the next day.
With United he has won the FA Cup and League Cup and finished as Europa League top scorer when the club reached the 2021 and 2025 finals. In 2026 he collected the writers' and players' player of the year awards. For Portugal he has won the Nations League twice.
Source: Bruno Fernandes
