Ahead of the FIFA World Cup's imminent start, Portugal National Team Boss Roberto Martinez has publicly praised the Manchester United captain and discussed what he loves so much about him.
It is very likely that Cristiano Ronaldo will steal the headlines, both good and bad, for Portugal this summer; however, the majority of fans believe that Bruno Fernandes could be the key to Portugal winning their first World Cup.
Bruno Fernandes has been 'Mr Consistent' even since joining United. Reaching 20-plus goal contributions in all seven seasons at the club, and reaching 30-plus in three of those seasons. However, it feels as if this season has been the most complete version of Bruno.
After yet another fantastic season with Manchester United, breaking Thierry Henry's assist record and etching his name in the history of English football, the midfielder has emerged in the eyes of many as a potential candidate for the upcoming Ballon d'Or.
With Lionel Messi winning the award after his World Cup triumph, a new recipe for the Ballon d'Or was formed. Win the cup, be your nation's star man, and win the Golden Ball, implying that if Fernandes follows those steps, he has a real shot at the biggest individual prize of them all.
Fernandes has already won the Premier League Player of the Season, giving him a huge confidence boost, resulting in his Portugal manager, Martinez, putting a lot of faith in his abilities.
Roberto Martinez's comments on Fernandes
In an interview with The Athletic, the Portugal manager spoke all about Bruno Fernandes.
"In the three years that I’ve been here in the national team, his consistency levels have been incredible. Everything that he does in the final third has been of the highest level.
"Now I’m delighted that he gets recognition, not just from the players, because that’s something that you can feel straight away in the PFA awards, but also from the writers and the Premier League in general.
"Obviously, breaking that record over one season to get 21 assists, knocking Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry, that’s creating a historic memory."
The key part of the interview is when Martinez talks about recognition because his level has been the same for years, but the praise and credit he has received from his peers has been minimal.
Bruno Fernandes has been brilliant for both club and country for a very long time, but now that he has these legends of the game giving him his flowers, it could give him that extra boost he has needed to lead his country to the ultimate prize.
How could Portugal's potential triumph affect United?
Manchester United already has an array of reasons for a player to want to play for the club, especially now that they have Champions League football next year. However, if Portugal win the World Cup, they immediately have another huge boost in the transfer window.
Most players want to play amongst the best; therefore, if Bruno Fernandes stars in a winning team, all of a sudden, Manchester United becomes the number one destination this summer; players will sign just to play alongside United's captain.
Furthermore, United's biggest issue this summer is resolving the midfield; therefore, Fernandes becoming the majority's best midfielder in the world could entice players such as Elliot Anderson away from other teams and to Old Trafford.
Also, when looking at it commercially, Manchester United would profit incredibly from sponsorships, shirt sales, and ticket demand, as everyone wants a piece of the best player in the world.
Therefore, as amazing as it would be to see England lift the World Cup, it would be in United's best interest to see Portugal be victorious with Bruno Fernandes at the forefront due to potential positives in the future.
