Bruno Fernandes’ blood still runs green and white, as he opened up on a heartfelt conversation with Sporting CP ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League final with Tottenham Hotspur
Bruno Fernandes has revealed that an emotional phone call with his old Sporting CP kitman left him in tears on the eve of Manchester United’s Europa League final. Fernandes joined United from the Liga Portugal side in a £47million move back in January 2020.
He has gone on to become one of the club’s key players, if not their most important. However, it’s evident that Fernandes still holds a major soft spot for Leões, as evidenced by a call with João Reis that left him crying tears of joy.
Sporting were crowned Liga Portugal winners on Saturday after beating Vitória Guimarães 2-0 on home soil, finishing two points clear of rivals Benfica. And it appears as though the club which put Fernandes on the world stage hasn’t forgot about him, with Reis – who is described by his professional LinkedIn account as the club’s U16 strength and conditioning coach – quick to call the 30-year-old in jubilation.
Speaking about the call, Fernandes told Sport TV: “Much happiness and gratitude for everything I lived in Sporting.
“It is a club for which I have enormous affection, a huge passion. I was as happy or happier than all those who were celebrating. Unfortunately, I could not be there, but I will still celebrate many titles in Marquês.
“I would have liked to have been there to congratulate the players, coaches and staff. I was able to do it with those who are here [Ruben Amorim and company] and who were part of this, congratulate them.
“Sporting is undergoing a major change. It’s also been achieved through Ruben Amorim, Hugo Viana, Frederico Varandas… they’ve managed to change the dynamics of the club to become competitive again and win.
“I’m happy about that. I got a call from João Reis which brought tears to my eyes. It’s a club that I’ll always have enormous affection for and that will always have a place in my heart.”
After spending his early professional years with Novara, Udinese, and Sampdoria, Fernandes signed for Sporting CP in 2017. With 63 goals and 50 assists across 137 games, Fernandes lifted a Taca de Portugal with the side, as well as two Taca da Ligas – with the Primeira Liga that the club achieved this year coming as one of the very few titles that evaded him during his own three-year stint.
Another United figure who will undoubtedly be celebrating Sporting’s recent success is manager Ruben Amorim, who left the Portuguese outfit in November to join the Red Devils. While Amorim and Fernandes never crossed paths together in their homeland’s capital, the two have forged a formidable partnership at Old Trafford, despite a lacklustre string of results for United in the Premier League this season.
The Red Devils currently sit 16th in the league with just one game remaining to play, with Amorim having managed just seven victories since succeeding Erik ten Hag. However, the side’s fortunes could change on Wednesday night when they face a Spurs side – who are also struggling domestically – in the final of the Europa League.
After finishing third under the new league format, United handed Real Sociedad a 4-1 loss in the round of 16, before omitting Lyon with a scoreline of 7-6 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. The Red Devils secured a 7-1 aggregate win over Athletic Club in the semi-finals to stamp their spot at San Mamés in Bilbao.
Spurs, meanwhile, achieved 3-2 and 2-1 aggregate wins over AZ Alkmaar and Frankfurt respectively in the earlier knockout stages, before relishing in a 5-1 win over Bodo/Glimt in the semis to make it to the final. Both sides will be eager to make up for disastrous Premier League seasons – with Spurs sitting just one point behind United in the Premier League in 17th place – in what promises to be an action packed evening of football.
