Bruno Fernandes is the man of the moment at Manchester United.placeholder image
Bruno Fernandes is the man of the moment at Manchester United. | Getty Images
Man Utd midfielder Bruno Fernandes is making headlines this week after a blockbuster interview about the club.
QPR hero Charlie Austin name dropped a former Rs teammate when giving his opinion on the debacle unfolding at Manchester United surrounding midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
The Portugal international registered a goal and assist for the Red Devils in the 4-4 draw with AFC Bournemouth on Monday night as he continues a purple patch of form. However, rather than his on-the-pitch performance, it’s a recent interview that has set the footballing world talking.
Fernandes has said that the club ‘wanted me to leave’ to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in the summer when a reported £100 million bid came into Old Trafford. The midfielder spoke to Canal 11, a channel owned by the Portuguese Football Federation, and said: "From the club I felt it was, 'If you go it's not so bad for us'. It hurts me a bit.
Bruno Fernandes hits out at Manchester United
"More than hurting me, it makes me sad. I'm a player that no one can criticise, I'm always available, I always give my best.
"I could have left in this transfer window, I would have earned much more money. I would have won many trophies this season, but I decided not to go, not only for family reasons but because I genuinely love the club."
As has often been the case, the temperamental playmaker’s words and actions overshadow what he is doing in matches for Manchester United. Speaking on Sky Sports on Tuesday, Austin was asked if there had been players in his career who went down a similar path.
Charlie Austin compares Fernandes to ex QPR teammate
He said: “I think the closest I’d say on the attitude situation was Tarrabt. Brilliant, but didn’t want to be in the club and play in the Championship. Then he’s moved on and did go and play for AC Milan in the Champions League also. For me, he’d be the standout one.
“He was very good. The reason why you know that is because, whenever he’s in conversation now, he looks back and goes, ‘I messed up my time in London’. He was phenomenal. He was a player that got you off your seat, you enjoyed playing with and fans didn’t mind paying the money to watch him play.”
Tarrabt spent five years on the books at QPR, making 164 appearances for the side and scoring 34 goals. The midfielder helped QPR into the Premier League and was a regular for the side but, following relegation in 2015, then went on loan to Fulham.
During that 2014/15 campaign, Tarrabt came under criticism for being ‘overweight’ from manager Harry Redknapp and hit back at that criticism. In 2020, the player did look back positively on his time at Loftus Road and said: “On a personal level, I hope to achieve many things. Now I feel like I’m at the top of my career. I feel good on my way, I feel strong and fit. So I will try to achieve as much as I can.
“This season, at Benfica, things are going well… but I had another one, when I was at Queens Park Rangers, which was fantastic: I scored 19 goals and made 21 assists… but this season at Benfica is by far one of the best I’ve had too… but I think I can still do better.”
In other news, QPR enter Leicester City and Southampton race for 'stunning' Premier League transfer swoop.
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