Manchester United’s new midfielder gained plenty from a spell in
Italy before blossoming at Sporting to secure his big move
In a relatively small country, nothing stays a secret for too long. As Bruno Fernandes stepped outside his home and on to the street, he was swiftly doorstepped by a reporter from the television news station SIC. “It’s not the moment yet for my final message to Sporting fans,” he said with an amiable smile. Would he at least confirm that going to
England was his preference? “It always was,” said Fernandes, without a second’s hesitation.
All things come to those who wait and how Sporting Clube de Portugal’s now-erstwhile captain has waited. In the past year it was abundantly clear that Sporting couldn’t hold him much longer, and with his talent demanding a wider audience it would have been so even if they had been in better financial shape. So Sportinguistas savoured every moment over that period, from last April’s stealthy rocket from range to oust Benfica from the Taça de Portugal in the semi-final to the deflected drive that put them on the road to victory in the Taça final against Porto.