Ronaldo and Fernandes set to gel at Man United despite Portugal woes

Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes have struggled to spark together for Portugal… but there is room for BOTH to dazzle at Man United – and their off-field friendship will help in the quest for success

• Bruno Fernandes took credit for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United return 
• Both superstars are team-mates for Portugal and now at club level this season 
• They have struggled to spark together for their nation with Ronaldo the talisman
• United will want them both to flourish as they push to end their trophy drought
• There will be hope at Old Trafford that both players will form a good partnership
• Fernandes and his footballing idol Ronaldo are close friends away from the pitch 

Bruno Fernandes cheekily claiming credit for masterminding Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United pointed towards a very bright future for the club but, now older and a different player, Ronaldo is expected to take the limelight.

For now, until the end of the international break at least, Fernandes is top dog. There have been suggestions that the duo, when paired up at club level, will struggle to spark off each other, but optimism is flowing through the corridors at Old Trafford. 

And Fernandes’ reaction after it was confirmed that Ronaldo had sealed his emotional homecoming said all supporters needed to know. The players are ecstatic, hungry, and champing at the bit to try and win trophies alongside him. 

Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and Bruno Fernandes (left) will play together at Manchester United

Ronaldo’s homecoming to United after over a decade was officially confirmed on deadline day

That much was evident through Fernandes’ post welcoming Ronaldo back to United. Suggesting he played a role in the deal, which was indeed confirmed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he wrote ‘Agent Bruno’ on Twitter, with an emoji of a suitcase.

Following that up with a simple ‘Welcome back home Cristiano’, with the custom goat emoji for good measure, Fernandes expressed his excitement. But now, the hard work begins. United must figure out a way for them both to dazzle.        

Two truly world-class players in the same team doesn’t sound like the type of dilemma that would pose a headache for boss Solskjaer, but their contrasting fortunes when away with Portugal suggests otherwise.

Fernandes and Ronaldo are key players for Portugal but have endured a mixed on-field spark

After Ronaldo’s arrival was announced, Fernandes then cheekily claimed credit for the return

Fernandes has made no secret of the fact that he grew up idolising Ronaldo. Another heartfelt post on social media reacting to the news that his compatriot was heading to United was a drawing showing him watching the superstar on TV.

The sketch was captioned as ‘Never stop dreaming’. A lifetime ambition has been achieved for Fernandes, then, and they both have followed similar paths. After all, he joined from Sporting Lisbon, the same club Ronaldo also left. 

‘My love of Manchester United really started when I used to watch Cristiano Ronaldo play and ever since then I have been a big fan of this great club,’ Fernandes said after joining United, casting his mind back to being a starry-eyed youngster.

It is a safe bet that Ronaldo will primarily play as a No 9 at United, with all his years of experience and goal scoring exploits making him just as dangerous as ever in the box. That would see Fernandes nestled in behind him as the playmaker.

Ronaldo is the undisputed talisman for his country, meaning Fernandes has a supporting role

Fernandes has made no secret of the fact that Ronaldo was one of his football idols growing up

With pace either side of them through the likes of Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, the potential for United’s new-look strike force is limitless. On paper, that is, however, as there may be problems.

‘He is not signing to sit on the bench. He is going to make us a better team,’ said Solskjaer, who also wants his new talisman to get involved ‘as soon as possible’. In short, Ronaldo will be thrown straight into the firing line as the main man. 

Those words may have summoned up an uneasy feeling of deja vu for Fernandes, though. For Portugal, he steps out of the spotlight to let Ronaldo take centre stage, whereas at United he is the true headline-hogger. 

But there is no ill feeling between them or frustration on Fernandes’ part. Instead, he has accepted that while Ronaldo remains his country’s standout star, and the captain, his will be more of a supporting role. 

Fernandes has shown no frustration with his deeper position for Portugal to help Ronaldo shine

Their good friendship off the field undoubtedly helps with this. After joining United in January 2020, Fernandes revealed he spoke with Ronaldo, who praised the club with glowing colour. 

‘I spoke with him after, not before,’ Fernandes said. ‘I said before – Manchester, for me, was the dream team. I always wanted to play for this team and it doesn’t matter who can talk about it – bad or good, I will come.

‘It was my dream to play in the Premier League. I have the choice to come to Manchester United and it was two dreams in one. It was perfect.

‘Of course, I spoke with Cristiano after and he spoke very well about the club. I spoke with him some days ago, again. Every time I speak with him, he asks me how Manchester is and if everything is okay.

Ronaldo has stayed a fan favourite at Old Trafford because of his heroics during his first stint

‘Everyone knows he spent a lot of time in Manchester and he has consideration for the club. He likes the club, I think he won his first Ballon d’Or here, so it’s a club who’ve marked him, for sure.’

After all those years, that mark remained. But behind the optimism and excitement for Ronaldo’s second United spell, there is sheer bemusement at why Fernandes has struggled to have the same impact as his team-mate with Portugal.

The simple fact is that Fernandes has been awarded 33 caps for his country, but has scored just four goals. Admittedly, it is Ronaldo who takes the penalties for them, but this pretty meagre return is more to do with his role away from club football.

Ronaldo is the underlying reason behind this. Everything Portugal do, and have done over the course of many, many years, is centred solely around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner getting the ball and then finding the net.

Portugal’s style is heavily based around Ronaldo and Fernandes has often struggled to impress

Those around him, such as Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix and Diogo Jota, are all standout performers domestically, but must fall in line and make sure that everything they do around the pitch when they are with Portugal finds its way to their dangerman. 

He has paid back this sacrifice in spades, becoming the record top-scorer at the European Championship, overtaking Michel Platini, and also pulling level alongside Iran’s Ali Daei for the most senior international goals with 109. 

But in this quest for success, Fernandes, normally the go-to creative hub at United, becomes part of a wider machine. He is normally fielded in a deeper role, too, picking up a position as a No 8 and looking to orchestrate from there. 

It is important to remember that football is about so much more than raw numbers – but there is no denying that Fernandes’ overall record for Portugal is average. That is why he is struggling to escape the claim that he is being held back by Ronaldo.

Fernandes has just four goals in total on international duty and was even dropped at Euro 2020

At United, they will find there is room for them both. No compromises will be needed, just two born entertainers working in perfect tandem and playing in their preferred positions as they bid to finally end the club’s trophy drought. 

They are both passionate, can get carried away in the heat of the fray and love the game, and will help a United team that for too long has been crying out for natural leaders willing to drag them over the finish line by the scruff of their neck. 

That is why Solskjaer is unlikely to pay too much attention to Fernandes’ international concerns. Yes, he thrives on being the focal point of a team, but he is driven and fully committed to the greater cause, just like Ronaldo. 

His frustration at poor decisions and misplaced passes at United often leads to him angrily throwing a hand into the air, but this doesn’t happen with Portugal. Instead, his lower status there sees him fit into being a part of the greater whole. 

But Fernandes is driven and committed to the wider cause, so will welcome Ronaldo at United

There is room at United for both Fernandes and Ronaldo to spearhead the charge for trophies 

United’s electric counter-attacks will help both lead them on to silverware together, and it was no surprise to see Fernandes, when asked what six attributes from players he would choose to make his perfect footballer, selected Ronaldo’s skill.

There is fervour beneath the surface during this international break as supporters wait to see how Ronaldo and his compatriot fare in the same team. But with this fresh start, the signs are pointing towards them building the perfect tag-team.

‘Cristiano is one of the greats in football history. His mentality inspires those who practice this sport,’ Fernandes once told La Gazzetta dello Sport. ‘He has won a lot, but no one can win alone.’

He most certainly won’t be alone now, and with his close friend alongside him, there is no excuse for United not to add to their hallowed trophy cabinet this year.

United fans are ecstatic about Ronaldo’s return and have hailed Fernandes since his signing

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