Fernandes details how key Solskjaer message swayed Man Utd move

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has said that he was convinced about a move to Old Trafford by boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s confidence in him.

Solskjaer had shown promise with his previous signings, with Daniel James, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka showing decent form in their debut seasons.

United largely struggled before the turn of the year, though, enduring their worst start to a league season in 30 years.

However, Fernandes arrived in a big-money move from Sporting Lisbon and has played a key role in the Red Devils going 11 matches unbeaten before the season was brought to a halt.

Solskjaer has voiced his admiration for the Portugal international on many an occasion and, speaking to MUTV, Fernandes outlined why he was convinced by his coach.

“There were a lot of final things,” the midfielder said about what convinced him. “Like I said before, since the beginning I wanted to join Manchester United.

“For me, the most important was obviously the confidence of the coach. I need to know I am backed from the coach, because sometimes when you change club, not every time the coach wants you.

“Not like I need to come because the coach wants me to play, no, not like this, but I want to feel the confidence from the coach. You come, you are a choice for me and you come.

 

 

“I need you, I want you, it’s not like you come and I ask but I will play? No, this for me is not the point.

“For me, the point is the confidence he has in me. If he has confidence in me, then the rest is working.”

Fernandes has scored three goals and assisted four others since his arrival and was handed the Premier League’s Player of the Month award for February.

Fellow January arrival Odion Ighalo, who was brought in on loan from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua on deadline day, has also impressed with four goals.

Ighalo has also been speaking about life at United and revealed how David de Gea, Sergio Romero and Juan Mata have helped him settle in.

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