Bruno Fernandes is a combination of the best qualities of Manchester United legends 

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Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes

#3 Can do it all - Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney

At the time of arrival, Wayne Rooney was the most complete youngster at United. He obviously could score with his feet and his head, but he could also pick a pass, play the diagonal ball, drop deep to link up play with the other forwards and also fullfil defensive duties, something which, at the time, couldn't be said of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bruno Fernandes has primarily played as an attacking midfielder, the number 10, but when Pogba was unavailable due to injury pre-lockdown, Bruno Fernandes operated in central midfield, as the number 8 against Wolves and Everton.

Bruno Fernandes' general position was much deeper than what we've been accustomed to since the restart. His ability to link-up play and his versatility to play across midfield is reminiscent of Wayne Rooney.

#2 Ryan Giggs - Adaptability

Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs adapted his game to suit the needs of the team and to prolong his career. He started as pacey winger running up and down the left-wing and tearing teams apart with hazy dribbles, became a left-sided midfielder upon the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and later dictated play from deep as a central midfielder.

To have played at the very top for more than two decades is a testament to the man's immense ability and adaptability.

Likewise, Bruno Fernandes has adapted his game to suit the needs of the Premier League is a manner not many thought he could. Alexandre Pato even suggested that he'd struggle in England and be a flop (much like Pato himself at Chelsea). However, Bruno Fernandes, interestingly, is producing the goods at a higher rate in England than in Portugal.

He has a goal involvement every 81 minutes for Manchester United while he was goals and assists came at every 102 minutes at Sporting Lisbon. Safe to say, his adaptability has transformed United's season.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - Hunger

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo

For a while, there was a consensus at United that Wayne Rooney was a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo. If there is one thing that separated Cristiano and Rooney, it was hunger. Rooney was content at playing the sport he loved, he just enjoyed being able to be a professional footballer.

Cristiano wanted to be the best player in the world, he just wanted 'it' more. He would train notoriously, be the first person at Carrington in the morning and was usually the last man out of the door. He would practice his free-kicks for hours after everyone had left.

Similarly, Bruno Fernandes has shown that he will settle for nothing less than being the best. Since the restart, no player not named Messi or Cristiano has had more goal involvements than Bruno Fernandes.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has said that Bruno Fernandes is not content with giving 99%, it's always about giving 100% for him. With the games coming thick and fast, he almost ran himself into the ground and it showed as his performances tapered off just a tad bit in the last few games but he never stopped or complained. He kept going and United ascended to third place.

Bruno Fernandes isn't a breath of fresh air at United, he is a return to the roots, the foundations of Manchester United.

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Edited by S Chowdhury
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