Manchester United went into a monumental transfer window for the club’s prospects, where they needed to prioritise, and that inevitably means making some hard decisions.
The club signed four players worth £225m, and despite sales, ended the window with a net spend above £150m.
Despite that, there remains a hole in central midfield, so Ineos faced a brutal job of reshaping Man Utd in Ruben Amorim’s vision.
United in Focus can now reveal that the club considered an August move for a wonderkid who the scouts deemed a ‘great fit’ for the manager. He eventually moved elsewhere, but United are keeping tabs.
Braga winger Roger Fernandes celebrates against Famalicao.
Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Man Utd considered Roger Fernandes move
Man Utd have been linked to Roger Fernandes for nearly half a year now, with his potential ability as a wing-back in a back-three system a tantalising prospect.
19-year-old Fernandes turned heads in Portugal for Braga last season, and United’s interest in him only intensified since then.
However, a wing-back was the last thing on United’s agenda this summer, but still, United in Focus can confirm that United were considering a move up until late in the window, so enamoured they were by his potential.
Fernandes joined Al Ittihad on deadline day in a £26m move, eventually, but United in Focus understands that the club will continue to keep tabs on a player they believe is a great fit for Amorim.
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Transfer insider Graeme Bailey, speaking to United in Focus, said, “United view the 19-year-old as a player of huge potential and we can confirm they considered making a move for him in August.
“However, United were having to prioritise other aspects of their squad, and Fernandes’s people were aware. A number of clubs like Fernandes, but few more so than United. Their scouts really rate him and feel he would be a great fit for Amorim and the squad.
“But with PSR, there are limits to spending a club can do, and United just had other issues that were priorities. He’s a player that even with a move to Saudi, United will continue to keep very close tabs on.”
Man Utd might think twice about Fernandes’ move
There is no doubt that Fernandes is an immense talent who is coming off a breakout year, and started this season in a rich vein of form as well.
However, if a 19-year-old wonderkid with the pick of clubs across Europe joins Saudi Arabia, then it’s fair to question the motivation.
The standard of the Saudi Pro League has gone up immeasurably in recent years, but it’s still quite far away from the standard of competition in Europe.
Many youngsters have joined the league in the last few years, but few have proven to be long-term stays. Just this summer, Gabri Veiga, once a statement signing for the league, returned to Europe with Porto.
Fernandes can answer all these questions by lighting it up in Saudi Arabia, but one can’t help but feel it’s a step backwards for a 19-year-old wonderkid with the world at his feet.