Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has revealed his disappointment at Declan Rice's decision to join Arsenal, expressing his belief that the England midfielder would have been a perfect fit for the Red Devils. In an interview with The Football Writers' Association, Fernandes stated, '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' comments come in the wake of Rice's high-profile move to Arsenal for a record-breaking fee of £100 million, rising by £5 million in add-ons. The midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in 2021, with then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitting that he 'really liked' the player and that there had been discussions about signing him. Solskjaer further praised Rice's abilities, stating, 'I think his legs, covering the pitch. I think he improved a lot on his playmaking as well.'
The interest in Rice from Manchester United was particularly intriguing given the recent signing of Fernandes from Sporting CP for £47 million. The pair had trained together during a summer camp in Portugal, displaying a strong mutual respect and a potential dream midfield partnership. However, Rice ultimately chose to join Arsenal, a decision that left Fernandes feeling gutted.
Fernandes' form this season has been outstanding, winning the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award and amassing 21 assists and eight goals in 32 Premier League games. He is now up for the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Season award, going head-to-head with Rice, who has also been in impressive form for Arsenal.
The article concludes by highlighting the competitive nature of the Premier League, with both Fernandes and Rice in the running for prestigious awards. It also mentions the recent upgrade to Sky's Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle, which includes HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, and discovery+, providing extensive coverage of the Premier League and other sports.
