Bruno Fernandes admits to taking inspiration from all areas of Ronaldo’s game, with the Manchester United midfielder following in illustrious footsteps at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese playmaker has become a talismanic presence at Old Trafford, as he follows in the footsteps of an iconic countryman
A fellow countryman started out on his path to superstardom with Premier League heavyweights, with the first of five Ballons d’Or and as many Champions League crowns secured while in England.
Ronaldo has gone on to cement a standing as an all-time great, with Fernandes taking important less from him.
“I think it was a little bit of everything. When Cristiano began to take his first steps in the national team, it was in Euros in our home country [Euro 2004], so I was nine years old. That year stays with everyone because we lost the final in Portugal, we saw him crying after the final, he was a young boy who was starting to shine and from there I started to watch him”. Said Fernandes.
“It wasn’t because he plays in my position because that wasn’t the case, but it was the way he worked every day, the mentality he had, the capacity he had to give 100 percent in every game at a high level, for me, it was like a motivation like you always have to do better. He was scoring goals every game, but game after game he was still trying to improve, get better.
“My mentality comes a little bit from understanding what sort of player you want to be. Do you want to be that player who has a good season, and maybe goes up and down, up and down, or do you want to be the player who always wants to be at the top? Okay, you will have bad games for sure, everyone has – Cristiano has had bad games, 100 percent – but the point is, coming back from a bad game.
“Coming back with the mentality that is, ‘okay I didn’t play well in that last game and I really need to do well in this one. The mentality to do better day after day is really important for me. I’m improving a lot because of this, and that was my biggest motivation.”
Fernandes boasts a similar relentless drive for perfection as Ronaldo, with the 26-year-old stating on a regular basis that he will not settle for second best at United.
He is doing all he can to put the Red Devils back on a trophy trail, with a further 28 goals and 18 assists added to his impressive tally in 2020-21.