Manchester United and Portugal star Bruno Fernandes has admitted that he was “too shy” to snag the shirt of a legendary former player that he idolised growing up.
Bruno Fernandes has been in sensational form in recent weeks and the 30-year-old Manchester United captain has once again highlighted his importance at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils midfielder fired Ruben Amorim’s men into the quarter-finals of the Europa League after his stunning hat-trick in United’s win over Real Sociedad.
Following Fernandes’ display in United’s 4-1 thumping of Real Sociedad at Old Trafford last Thursday, the Red Devils star showed his quality against Leicester City.
Fernandes picked up two assists and found the back of the net in United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League at the King Power Stadium last Sunday.
The Portugal international has been criticised after Roy Keane pulled no punches towards Fernandes in recent weeks during a scathing assessment of the player.
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Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
What Man Utd star Bruno Fernandes admitted about Italy World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo
Bruno Fernandes has been arguably Manchester United’s best signing in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era and has excelled in the heart of midfield for the Red Devils.
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The United captain revealed that Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta and Juventus and AC Milan legend Andrea Pirlo were massive influences for him when he was growing up.
Speaking to Inside United, Fernandes said that he had a “chance to speak with” the World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo when he was on international duty with Portugal.
“The only one that I really, really regret not asking for was Andrea Pirlo,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“He was one of my favourite ones growing up, him and Iniesta, but I have never been brave enough to ask him.
“So, at the time, I was too shy for that. I did get a chance to speak to him, in Turin, when he was [Juventus] manager and we went there with the national team to have a camp there.
“I had a chance to speak with him and chat and it was very, very good.”
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Bruno Fernandes made request to Andrea Pirlo after meeting him while on international duty with Portugal
Andrea Pirlo is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of all time and the former Juventus manager had a prolific playing career for both club and country.
The 45-year-old Italian former midfielder was part of the Italy team that lifted the 2006 World Cup trophy and reached the Euro 2012 final before losing to Spain.
Fernandes recalled that he asked the former Italy international if he had a spare shirt and if he could send it to him, but he never received one from Pirlo.
“I had the time to stay there and exchange some words with someone that I always looked up to and I even said to him if, for any chance, you have a shirt at home that you don’t need or is there just for no reason, could you just remember me and, if you want, you can send it to the Portuguese camp,” he continued.
“He never did it! Now I think it is obviously the only one I regret not asking for.”
Fernandes is currently away on international duty with the Portugal national team after the start of the March international break.