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On January 30, 2020, Manchester United produced a miracle.
It was something many United fans had been looking forward to for six months, and it finally came true, with a simple announcement from the club’s communications department.
Most, however, did not want to believe it at first. They had spent so much time waiting for United to sign Bruno Fernandes amid a torrent of transfer noise in the media that it felt inevitable that the Portuguese playmaker – a relative £ 47m cut even back then – he would fail at United.
The words ‘flop’ and ‘Fernandes’ now belong to different stratospheres, as the last 12 months have shown.
Looking back on that announcement, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s comments in particular, it’s no exaggeration to say that the United manager was prescient with what he saw in Fernandes.
“We have been following Bruno for many months and everyone here has been tremendously impressed with all his attributes and what he will bring to this team,” said Solskjaer.
“Most importantly, he is an excellent human being with a great personality and his leadership qualities are clear for all to see.
“Bruno’s goal and assist statistics speak for themselves, he will be a fantastic addition to our squad and will help us move forward in the second half of the season. The winter break comes at a perfect time for us to integrate Bruno into the squad and that he knows his companions ”.
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In the end, United was given the added benefit of a Covid-19-imposed hiatus, as well as that winter break in February, meaning Fernandes, who looked smart enough in his opening just weeks before the pandemic , was able to speak English when football resumed in the summer.
Even when he scored his first goal for United, in his fourth appearance with the club, he didn’t really look like a new signing. It seemed obvious that he should make it to Old Trafford at that point, he seemed comfortable playing against 75,000.
His qualities off the field were ideal for Solskjaer, his leadership was a true blessing to the United team and his numbers, of course, speak for themselves. Forget the ‘penalty merchant’ complaints from jealous rival fans, 27 goals in 47 appearances (all competitions) is an impressive comeback for a midfielder’s debut year in English football.
Now comes January and many related to United are asking the same question. Can United pull another Fernandes-style rabbit out of the hat?
The simple answer is no and they shouldn’t try.
With the coronavirus still affecting the soccer transfer world, it was a much calmer summer window than many had imagined. The big teams refused to do big business; players who could have been sold stayed in clubs, as United saw with Jadon Sancho.
January is rarely the time to operate elite teams, even under normal circumstances, so the signing of Fernandes was a masterstroke in the first place.
Many will say that United need a Sancho, or high-level right winger, this month and will be eager for the club to find someone whose skill and impact are on Fernandes proportions.
However, the majority of United’s performances this season, and the subsequent closing of the gap with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, have shown a collaborative ability to tackle the gaps in their team. Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and others have performed admirably on the right flank and even Fernanades’ backup Donny van de Beek could play there more often.
Both Van de Beek and Edinson Cavani, who could have appeared more often in the first team, have given Solskjaer more flexibility at least. Some have complained about Solskjaer’s use of the Dutchman, but the United manager insists it is a long-term process to integrate him into the team.
Not everyone can start running like Fernandes. And this January is not the time for wholesale changes.
United were in dire straits at this time last year. Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard were his top 10 picks and something had to be done to resolve his criminal creativity gap. In the end, he was a Portuguese player that many had discarded before he reached these shores. A clearance Tottenham and Liverpool were unwilling to take.
Manchester United’s good form was affected by a 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup semi-final to Man City.
Goals from John Stones and Fernandinho ensured a well-deserved victory for City as United worked at Old Trafford, losing a fourth semi-final to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United will now return to focus on their league campaign, although more immediately they have an FA Cup draw against Watford to look forward to on Saturday night.
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United deserve all the credit for betting on Fernandes, but this time they don’t have to take that risk. It was a one-time event, not a blueprint for future transfer efforts. The recent signing of teenager Amad Diallo is an example of the strategy United is pursuing, looking wisely at the long term.
Solskjaer has recently come under fire for retiring in a fourth consecutive semi-final, that precious silver that he continues to elude. But you have to think that Fernandes, a winner who has also improved the consistency of those around him, will bring success to Old Trafford in time.
Players like Bruno Fernandes don’t come around very often. United will find out that, if little else, in the January 2021 transfer window.
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