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Bruno Fernandes ‘did not CONNECT with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, claims Rio Ferdinand, because the playmaker was not central to the team’s game and says he became ‘disinterested’ until the striker’s departure
- Rio Ferdinand says Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo didn’t connect at Man United
- Fernandes’ form dipped after the striker returned to Old Trafford.
- Ferdinand believes that Fernandes prefers to be the focal point in the United team
Man United legend Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Bruno Fernandes had trouble connecting with Cristiano Ronaldo at the club because the playmaker prefers to be the focal point of the team.
Ronaldo’s fairy tale return to Old Trafford in the summer of 2021 grabbed the headlines, but the Portuguese striker began to dominate much of United’s 21-22 season with his conduct on and off the pitch.
Fernandes’ form began to suffer during that period, while Ronaldo finished as the club’s top scorer with 24 goals, and Ferdinand feels the midfielder was unable to find his best game due to his teammates “looking past him.” “.
speaking in his VibeConCinco On the YouTube show, Ferdinand insisted that Fernandes was better for United when Ronaldo was not in the squad, with the 28-year-old now in top form under Erik ten Hag since his team-mate’s contract was terminated. Portugal last year.
“There are some players whose game just doesn’t connect and I think Cristiano and Bruno… Bruno was better when he wasn’t or wasn’t in the team,” he said.
Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo did not connect at Man United, claims Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand believes that Fernandes took on Ronaldo because he was “the guy the game has to go through”
“I think it could be because Bruno needs to be the guy the game goes through, and I think the problem with Cristiano Ronaldo is because of his reputation and how good he is, people feel they need to find him.”
I’ve played on teams where you have a great number 9 and your first appearance is number 9. When they’re that good, you look beyond the others and I had like [Paul] scholesy and [Michael] Carrick ahead of me.
‘Sometimes I looked past them first. But Bruno wants the first look and says, “Give me the first look, as I want to be the guy who plays the ball to define the game.”
‘If he wasn’t getting that first glimpse, maybe he got a little disinterested, I don’t know, and it didn’t suit him. You are seeing the best of him now because the game seems to be going through him most of the time at Man United.
He believes the playmaker became ‘disinterested’ at United while Ronaldo was in the team
Fernandes has scored seven goals and provided five assists for United in all competitions this season as one of United’s most influential players, and the playmaker enjoyed an incredible January that saw him involved in a goal during every game except one.
He joined United from Sporting Lisbon for £68m in 2020 and became an instant hit with the fans, scoring 12 times after joining in January and then netting 28 times the following season.
Fernandes had a difficult campaign in 2021-22, scoring just ten when Ronaldo arrived, but he’s back to his old self this season.
It comes after the player urged the media to “stop using my name to attack Ronaldo” after some publications suggested he said United were “playing like a team” since leaving the club.
Fernandes is now in top form for United since Ronaldo’s contract was terminated last year.
After United’s 2-1 win over City last month, Fernandes said: ”[We] Before we were individuals, now we are a team. You can see a proper team working for each other.
After some interpreted that as throwing shade at Ronaldo, Fernandes responded with an angry post on social media.
‘I know it’s hard to see Manchester United do well, [but I] I have nothing that [say] about us in the news apart from the good stuff,’ he said in a story published Saturday.
Don’t use my name to attack Cristiano. Cristiano was part of our team for half the season and as I’ve said in many interviews, everyone from Liverpool is being amazing and acting like a proper team and you can see the results. We continue!’
There have been rumors of a rift between Portugal’s teammates before, when they appeared to offer icy greetings to each other at their World Cup camp shortly after Ronaldo’s explosive interview that led to his departure from Old Trafford.