Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes has revealed his disappointment at Declan Rice's decision to join Arsenal, calling him the 'perfect fit' for the Red Devils. In an exclusive interview with The Football Writers' Association, Fernandes expressed his sadness over Rice's choice, stating, 'I've always said, Rice was a player to play for Man United, I was really sad when he chose to go Arsenal. I always thought he would be a perfect fit for our club.'
Fernandes and Rice have a history of mutual respect and admiration, having trained together during a summer camp in Portugal three years ago. The pair shared a dressing room at the time, and Rice even hugged Fernandes after the Portuguese midfielder clipped the post with a first-time volley during shooting practice. Fernandes later reposted a picture of the pair from the session, adding a handshake emoji and writing, 'Was a pleasure to work with you.'
Despite their mutual respect, Fernandes was clearly gutted by Rice's decision to join Arsenal, a move that many United fans were also disappointed with. The England midfielder had been heavily linked with Old Trafford when the club were in the market for a midfielder amid the possibility of Paul Pogba leaving in 2021. In fact, Jesse Lingard was a part of the England squad, and it is understood that Rice spoke with Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw about United.
Then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer later admitted there had been discussions about signing Rice, a player he 'really liked.' In the end, a deal never materialised and United spent big on Raphael Varane. Two years later, Rice completed his switch to Arsenal for an initial £100m, rising by a further £5m in add-ons, making him the most expensive English player of 2023.
Fernandes, who collected the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award this season, will now go head-to-head with Rice for the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Season award. The United captain has claimed 21 assists (in all competitions) and eight goals in 32 Premier League games this season, and is just one short of equalling the record held jointly by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry of 20 assists in a single Premier League season.
In my opinion, Fernandes' comments highlight the importance of player recruitment and the impact it can have on a team's success. While Rice may have chosen Arsenal, it's clear that he was a player United wanted and admired. It's also a reminder of the competitive nature of the Premier League, where top players are constantly in demand and teams must be prepared to act quickly to secure their services.
