Bruno Fernandes has opened up on his seemingly swift adaptation to life at Manchester United and having the ‘support’ and confidence of his new teammates at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese international has starred since his mid-season arrival from Sporting Lisbon to quickly establish himself as a firm fans’ favourite, scoring three times and providing a further four assists in just nine appearances in all competitions.
Fernandes’ arrival has also coincided with an upturn in fortunes for Manchester United, who had embarked upon an 11-game unbeaten run prior to the suspension of football amid the coronavirus crisis, the marquee arrival having hit the ground running in English football.
The 25-year-old has now opened up on the ‘amazing’ support he has received from the club as he settles into his new surroundings, and discussed the importance of compatriot Diogo Dalot in welcoming him to Manchester and the Premier League.
“Diogo, of course, was one of the most important players in this period, because he helped me a lot,” Fernandes told MUTV.
“So he can speak Portuguese and also talking and everything, but also because he calls me for his home to stay there, to not stay in the hotel alone, so he and his mum and his family helped me a lot, because you can stay in one home with people, with Portuguese people for me it’s easier. His mum made dinner for me. The most difficult things are easy in the beginning because Diogo and his mum helped me a lot, so I think Diogo was one of the most important players in the beginning, but all the people helped a lot.
“Alex from the player care, he helped me a lot with the house, with everything, with the accountant, with the bank account. I think Manchester on this was amazing, because you had all the people to help with this and just to put your head in the game, in the training and everything, but also the most part of the players helped me a lot.
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“The Spanish guys, because the language is easy to talk, also the others, everyone asked me if I needed something, if I need this or this, small things, but everyone can help you.
“I think the beginning was easy because everyone wants to help me. If you talk about this, every player helped me.
“I played my first game and I feel like I’m there from the beginning of the season, because everyone treated me like I’m one of them. I arrived two days ago, I trained one time and I go directly to the game and I feel the support of my team-mates. Like I feel the support of my team-mates at Sporting and I played for three years in Sporting, and I just arrived and I feel they have confidence in me, they pass me the ball.
“For me, this is the most important, when I am on the pitch and they give you the ball and they know you have pressure, but they know, they have confidence in you and they give you the ball. For me this is the most important.
“Sometimes out of the pitch it’s normal if you talk more with one player than another one. It’s normal, because it’s your way to stay in life. Maybe I have a way to stay in life and someone have a different way. I talk with him in the same way. There’s no problems between us, but it’s normal I talk more with Diogo, because Diogo is Portuguese, the language is easier and I know Diogo from a long time, so this is a normal situation, but in the pitch is where you see if your team-mates are confident in you or not. For me, this is the most important.
“When you are training and when you are on the pitch, there you need to show how important your team-mate is for you. Out of the pitch, you can help also and it was really important for me, because everyone wants to help me.
“If I wanted shampoo, if I wanted anything, small things, for example, I arrived and I talked with a guy I know from PlayStation and I gave joysticks to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, I gave one to Diogo, also David [de Gea], Fred and I talk with the other players. If someone wants one, just tell me and I can give you one, so from Manchester United, for example, David he took one for Dragon Ball Z, because he’s a fan and these are the kind of things, when you arrive, you want to have this feeling that you can trust, if you need something I will help you, if I need something I know you will help me.”
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