Transfer News
Transfer news: Bruno Fernandes admits he’s still gutted about Declan Rice joining Arsenal
In the latest transfer news making headlines across English football, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has openly admitted feeling “really sad” when Declan Rice chose Arsenal over Old Trafford. Speaking in an interview on JoelBeyaTV’s YouTube channel, Fernandes said he had always believed Rice was built to play for United. “I’ve always said that Rice was a player to play for Man United,” Fernandes said. “I was really sad when he chose to go to Arsenal. I always thought he would be a perfect fit for our club.”
The two players actually trained together in the Algarve during the summer of 2023, just weeks before Rice completed his £105 million move from West Ham. Former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer later confirmed on the Stick to Football podcast that the club held serious discussions over signing Rice, calling him a player he “really, really liked.”
A deal never happened, and United spent that money on Raphaël Varane instead. Rice has since proven he was worth every penny of Arsenal’s record investment, becoming one of the most complete midfielders in Europe and a vital part of Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing side.
Throughout the 2025–26 campaign, he has consistently delivered, tallying 4 goals and 5 assists in 35 matches while maintaining an impressive 87.5% pass completion rate and averaging 61 passes per game. His 0.28 expected assists (xA) per 90 also highlights his elite creative output, ranking him among the top 5% of all Premier League players.
Would Rice have actually fixed United’s midfield struggles?
Looking at it from Manchester United’s perspective, this isn’t just about missing out on a talented player; it’s about watching the perfect solution to a years-long problem thrive somewhere else. Rice’s underlying numbers show exactly why he is so effective; his 0.28 expected assists per 90 puts him above 95 per cent of Premier League midfielders, and his high pass completion rate shows he’s a player who dictates the game without ever shying away from the ball.
His npxG of 5.52 puts him in the top 68th percentile, which is impressive for someone playing so deep. United, on the other hand, have kept cycling through midfielders who either lack defensive discipline or the forward-driving quality Rice offers. If there’s a weakness in his game, it’s goalscoring with four goals in 35 matches, which means he isn’t a massive threat in the box, but for a United team that desperately need a disciplined engine, that hardly matters. Rice’s leadership, his pressing, and his ability to pull off 1.91 key passes per game would have fixed United’s structural issues almost instantly. Fernandes is right to feel the sting of this one.
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What does this admission say about United’s upcoming transfer plans?
Fernandes bringing up Rice’s name right now carries significance beyond just nostalgia. As Manchester United look toward the 2026–27 season, the club still haven’t filled that gap for an elite, ball-winning midfielder. His comments are essentially a public nod to a massive hole in the squad.
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Arsenal, however, move into the summer with Rice established as the heart of their system, chasing both the Premier League and the Champions League. The massive gap between the two clubs in midfield is no accident; it’s the direct result of that one decision made back in 2023. That transfer news clearly still hurts on the red side of Manchester today.