Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has named Arsenal and Manchester City players as his two hardest opponents.
Fernandes joined the Premier League in January 2020 from Sporting CP for a sum that could grow to £67.6 million.
The importance of the Portugal international to United cannot be understated, and it’s no surprise that Erik ten Hag has promoted him to club captain after wearing the armband for extended periods last season.
Fernandes has thrived in the English top tier, appearing in 124 Premier League games and contributing 77 goals.
However, the former Udinese player has revealed who he found the most tough to play against. N’Golo Kante, who was constantly on his tail and covering every blade of grass at Chelsea, was his first choice, and he also lauded Rodri and Arsenal’s £105 million record acquisition Declan Rice, saying they are “really similar.”
“It is a difficult one,” Fernandes told Sky Sports as part of a Saturday Social feature.
“In the Premier League, you play against top, top players. I can tell you [N’Golo] Kante was difficult, Rodri is really difficult, Declan Rice is really difficult.
“Declan and Rodri are physically really similar. Kante is more small but quick and sharp. But there are many players because we play in the best league in the world so you get to play against the best players.”
Fernandes seen Rice’s talent firsthand while off-season training at ‘The Campus,’ a luxurious sports complex in the Algarve, Portugal.
The 28-year-old will wear the United armband for the first time in a competitive encounter since being elected permanent captain on Monday night, when the Red Devils play Wolves.
“I don’t try to be the captain, I try to be just as I am,” Fernandes answered when asked what kind of captain he is.
“Obviously you know you have some responsibilities as a captain but the way I will act will be the way Bruno is, not how Bruno is a captain.
“It’s a big privilege. The thing that comes in your mind is look at the past of this club, look at the captains and how many trophies they’ve lifted.
“It makes you aware of what kind of captain I want to be, one that lifts trophies.”