Manchester United’s prolific midfielder Bruno Fernandes has a target not to only be one of the greatest footballers at Old Trafford but to be as great as former Barcelona‘s midfielder Andres Iniesta.
Fernandes was one of the best things that happened to Manchester United in January this year when he joined the club from Sporting Lisbon for a transfer fee worth about £46.6 million.
Since he arrived in the Premier League, he contributed to the total turn around of Ole Gunnar Solskjær‘s team, contributing 2 goals and 3 assists to the unprecedented 11 matches unbeaten run of the team.
His exploit in the league was celebrated in February when he was awarded the Premier League’s player of the month award. He would have probably repeated the same feat in March if the coronavirus pandemic did not halt football in the United Kingdom.
But no matter how great Manchester United‘s fans think Bruno Fernandes is, the Portuguese superstar believes he is still work in progress.
His mission is to be a “Warrior” because, for him, every game is a battle. “You need to go out to the game and just understand you need to beat your opponent”, he told Manchester United‘s official website.
Bruno Fernandes is following Iniesta’s footsteps
While explaining who he always wanted to be like as a footballer via United’s official website, Bruno Fernandes said he used to like to watch and follow Iniesta. He wants to achieve the legacy the Barcelona legend achieved while playing in Spanish La Liga.
“The one I liked to watch and follow was Iniesta because Iniesta is a mix between an eight and a 10”, he said. “It is a way I can do better, between eight and 10.
“It is the guy who always likes to have the ball, who always likes to take the risks, and I think Iniesta was one of the best in the world.
“For me, it was impressive how Iniesta finished his career without the Ballon d’Or [award]. With everything he won, it is difficult for me to understand.”
Iniesta was an integral part of the Barcelona sides that won two historic trebles in 2009 and 2015, and his 35 trophies, which includes nine La Ligas and four UEFA Champions League titles, making him the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time. After twenty-two years at Barcelona, Iniesta signed for Japanese club Vissel Kobe in 2018.
