Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes has rejected claims that he cannot play with his Portugal teammate and captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
In an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Fernandes tackled the thorny issue by defending Ronaldo and hinting that the striker really does make him better.
Fernandes was asked why his stats were infinitely better and more impressive before Ronaldo’s arrival and he plummeted upon his arrival at Old Trafford.
Fernandes recorded 29 goals and 19 assists in 53 appearances for the Red Devils before Ronaldo’s sensational return to Juventus’ Theater of Dreams.
Since then, in the 40 occasions in which he has worn the United shirt, he has added eight goals and seven assists. A massive drop!
On this, the player replied: “Most of my assists last season went to him, so I don’t think so (fair). I just had a bad season in terms of my own numbers. I don’t think it’s about Cristiano or myself.”
The 28-year-old also added that he himself was to blame for not taking the penalties, a burden that later fell on Ronaldo’s shoulders last season. Fernandes ended up missing twice from the spot, costing United against Aston Villa and Arsenal.
Fernandes noted that beyond United, he has also played with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner with the national team where their partnership flourished.
He told Crafton: “Playing with Cristiano as number 10 is really good because the players respect Cristiano so much that he creates more space, as the opponents are afraid that he will take the ball and score.”
“They want to guard him and (they) create an overload where he is to guard him. For example, when I scored two goals against North Macedonia (in the March tie-break that secured World Cup qualification for Portugal), one was from his assist and the other from his career that created the space behind him for me to will score”.
The former Sporting Lisbon star, in a show of leadership, insisted it was his responsibility to get Ronaldo the ball and find him in the right spaces.
Supporters are hoping the Portuguese duo can replicate their burgeoning national alliance at club level this season.
