Bruno Fernandes Biography
Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes, who was born on September 8, 1994, and plays as a midfielder for both the Portugal national team and Premier League club Manchester United, which he captained, is a professional footballer from Portugal. He is regarded as one of the top midfielders in the world and is well-known for his passing, playmaking, taking penalties, and work ethic.
Originally from Maia, Porto, Fernandes began his professional career with Serie B club Novara before moving on to Serie A club Udinese in 2013 and then Sampdoria three years later. He signed with Sporting CP in 2017 after spending five years in Italy, where he was made club captain. He was named to the Primeira Liga Team of the Year and Player of the Year in both seasons as a result of winning back-to-back Taças da Liga in 2018 and 2019, as well as the Taça de Portugal. He set a record in 2018–19 by scoring 33 goals across all competitions, making him the highest-scoring midfielder in Europe overall and the highest-scoring Portuguese midfielder.
Fernandes joined Manchester United in January 2020 for an initial cost of €55 million (£47 million), which at the time was the second-highest sum paid for a Portuguese player leaving the national league. He was named club captain in July 2023.
Former Portugal youth international Fernandes competed for his nation at the under-19, under-20, under-21, and under-23 levels. He participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics for Portugal. He played in Portugal’s rosters for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, the UEFA Euro 2020, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, winning the 2019 competition on home soil and earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament. He made his senior international debut in 2017.
Bruno Fernandes Personal Information
Full Name | Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes |
Date of Birth | September 8, 1994 |
Nationality | Portuguese |
Birth Place | Maia, Portugal |
Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
Position | Midfielder |
Debut | November 3, 2012 |
Networth | $23.5 million |
Agent | Miguel Pinho |
Bruno Fernandes Early life
Fernandes was born in Maia, a city in the Porto Metropolitan Area. He was a Manchester United and Boavista fan growing up. As a young boy, Fernandes and his older brother Ricardo, a professional football player, used to play football on the streets. Due to the caliber of Swiss football at the time, Fernandes’ father, who had immigrated to Switzerland, wanted Fernandes to follow him there, but he declined.
Bruno Fernandes Club career
Bruno Fernandes Early career
At the neighborhood club Infesta, Fernandes started his young career. Growing up, Fernandes was given the opportunity to sign a youth contract at the Porto academy, but he chose to join the local rivals Boavista instead since they provided him with transportation to training as his parents couldn’t drive him there every day.[10] The majority of Fernandes’ childhood football career was spent with Boavista, where he began as a center defender before switching to an offensive midfield position at the age of 15 after a loan to Pasteleira.
Spell in Italy
He moved to Italy to join Novara on August 27, 2012. After experiencing homesickness and having trouble learning Italian, Fernandes initially struggled in his new life in Italy. The “Maradona of Novara” and the “Mini Rui Costa” were monikers given to Fernandes after his girlfriend moved to Italy. He rapidly picked up the language and started settling down there. After only a few weeks with the development teams, Fernandes was promoted to the Serie B first squad. He went on to participate in just over half of the league games in the 2012–13 season, helping his team finish fifth and advance to the promotion play-offs.
Inter Milan and Juventus, two Serie A clubs, wanted to sign him in the summer of 2013, but Fernandes chose to play for Udinese in a co-ownership deal because they offered him first-team opportunity. On November 3 against Inter Milan at home, he made his Serie A debut, entering as a second-half replacement in a 0-3 loss. In a 3-3 tie against Napoli on December 7, 2013, Fernandes scored his first league goal. In the second game between the teams, he scored once more, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Fernandes moved to Sampdoria on loan with a commitment to sign a permanent contract on August 16, 2016. Twelve days later, he made his league debut, playing six minutes in a 2-1 victory over Atalanta at home. On September 26, 2016, in a 1-2 road loss to Cagliari, Fernandes scored his first goal for his new squad. He contributed to their tenth-place finish with 5 goals in 33 Serie A games throughout the season.
Sporting CP
2017–2018: Primeira Liga’s Player of the Year
After returning from the UEFA European Under-21 Championship on June 27, 2017, Fernandes signed a five-year contract with Sporting CP for a reputed €8.5 million with bonuses. In a 2-0 home win over Desportivo das Aves on August 6, 2017, Fernandes made his professional debut for the team. In his first five games of the Primeira Liga, he scored four goals, including a brace in a 5-0 away victory over Vitória de Guimares. In his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League group stage on September 12, Fernandes gave the visitors a 3-0 lead against Olympiacos in the 43rd minute in a 3-2 victory.
With 20 assists and 16 goals overall in his debut season, he was second only to Bas Dost in scoring and was selected to the Primeira Liga Team of the Year and Player of the Year.
Following an attack by about 50 Sporting supporters at the club’s training facility on May 15, 2018, after the team finished third in the league and missed qualifying for the Champions League, Fernandes and a number of his teammates, including coaches, suffered injuries. The team consented to compete in the Taça de Portugal final that was set for the next weekend despite the unfortunate circumstances, but they ultimately lost against Desportivo das Aves. On July 6, Fernandes was selected the Player of the Year for the Primeira Liga.
After club president Bruno de Carvalho left the Estádio José Alvalade, he changed his mind and signed a new five-year deal with a €100 million release clause four days later. He was also handed a higher income as a result.
2018–2020: highest-scoring midfielder in Europe
On March 3, 2019, during a 3-1 home victory against Portimonense, Fernandes scored his 23rd goal in competitive play for the 2018–19 season, breaking António Oliveira’s 1981–82 club record for goals by a midfielder in a season. On May 5, he scored a hat-trick in an 8-1 away victory over Belenenses SAD, becoming the Portuguese midfielder to ever record the most goals in a single season with 31. On May 25, 2019, he scored his 33rd and season-ending goal during Sporting’s triumph over Porto in the Taça de Portugal final. For his actions throughout the 2018–19 season, he was named the Primeira Liga Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.
In his first 10 appearances of the 2019–20 season, he scored seven goals, including a streak of six straight games with a goal.After Bas Dost and Mário Jardel, he became the third Sporting player in the twenty-first century to score in six or more straight games for the team.[43] On November 28, he helped Sporting qualify for the UEFA Europa League’s knockout rounds with two goals and two assists in a 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven.
Manchester United
2019–2020: Europa League top scorer
On January 29, 2020, Manchester United of England announced they had reached a deal with Sporting for the transfer of Fernandes for a fee rumored to be up to €80 million (£67.6 million), subject to the player passing a medical and settling on personal terms.[46] Approximately €55 million (£47 million) in initial compensation, plus up to €25 million (£21 million) in add-ons and 10% of the profits should United ever sell Fernandes, were paid in full the following day. Fernandes agreed to a contract for five and a half years.
On February 1st, he made his debut, playing the entire 90 minutes of a scoreless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at home. He assisted on the second goal, a header from Harry Maguire, in Manchester United’s 2-0 away victory over Chelsea on February 17. Fernandes made his club’s debut in Europe against Club Brugge for Manchester United in a 1-1 draw as a late substitute. On February 23, he scored his first goal for Manchester United against Watford, converting from the penalty spot in a final 3-0 victory at Old Trafford. He also contributed an assist for Mason Greenwood’s third goal in same game.
His first European goal for the team came in the second leg of their 5-0 triumph over Club Brugge in the round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League at Old Trafford, where he converted a penalty. Fernandes received the February Premier League Player of the Month award on March 16. In a 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on June 30, Fernandes earned his first pair of goals for the organization. He received numerous club and Premier League honors for his achievements in June, including Premier League Player of the Month and Goal of the Month, becoming him the only player in league history to receive both trophies at the same time.
In addition, he made history by being the first member of Manchester United to earn consecutive Premier League Player of the Month honors since Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2006–07 campaign. Fernandes received the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award from Manchester United in September, which is given to the team’s top performer from the previous year.
2020–2021: Individual success and Europa League final
One of the latest goals in Premier League history was scored by Fernandes on September 26 against Brighton & Hove Albion in the 100th minute of a 3-2 victory at the Amex Stadium. After referee Chris Kavanagh blew the final whistle, a video assistant referee gave United a penalty, which Fernandes converted. On November 7th, Fernandes defeated Everton 3-1 on the road with a brace and an assist.
In celebration of his four goals and one assist in November, he was voted Premier League Player of the Month. He repeated the honor in December after scoring three goals and dishing out four assists, making him the only player to receive the honor four times in a single calendar year. On February 2, 2021, he contributed one goal and two assists to United’s 9-0 home victory over Southampton, which tied the Premier League record. With 18 goals, he placed third among league leaders in goals scored, and with 12 assists, he placed second.
The first prospective player for the European Super League, Fernandes, voiced his disapproval of Manchester United’s decision to leave the UEFA Champions League and join the European Super League with 11 other clubs on April 20, 2021, saying, “Dreams can’t be [bought].” The European Super League was “suspended” that day and Manchester United withdrew the following day amid criticism from players, managers, football organizations, politicians, supporters, and the media.
In the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals against Roma on April 29, he scored twice and assisted on two additional goals. He also contributed an assist in the 3-2 loss on the second leg, which helped United move to the final 8-5 overall. In the Europa League Final on May 26, Manchester United and Villarreal drew 1-1 after extra time, but Villarreal ultimately won on penalties, despite Fernandes scoring on his penalty kick in the shootout.
2021–2022: Champions League top assist provider
In the first game of the 2021 Premier League season on August 14, Fernandes scored a hat-trick against Leeds United, leading his team to a 5-1 victory. After scoring against Newcastle United in the team’s subsequent home game, he missed a last-second penalty against Aston Villa two weeks later that would have preserved a 1-1 tie. Later, he apologized for missing the penalty on Instagram.
Being the first player to record an assist in five straight games of a Champions League campaign for an English club, Fernandes assisted Jadon Sancho in United’s 2-0 victory away against Villarreal on November 23 to ensure his team’s qualification to the round of sixteen. In his 100th game for the team, Fernandes scored the first goal in United’s 3-2 victory over rival Arsenal at home on December 2.
With the option of an additional year, Fernandes’ new deal, which he signed on April 1, 2022, will keep him at Manchester United through June 2026. In the team’s 3-0 home victory over Brentford on May 2, he netted his 50th goal for Manchester United. Although Fernandes was the leading assist provider in the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League with a total of seven assists, his performances declined throughout the season as he struggled and underperformed alongside his teammates. United supporters also grew frustrated with Fernandes’ complaints to referees during games, and the team finished in a disappointing sixth place, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.
2022–2023: Ending the trophy drought
After Juan Mata left the team after his contract expired, Manchester United announced on July 1 that they had altered Fernandes’ squad number from 18 to his chosen number 8, which was also the number he wore while playing for Sporting CP and as a tribute to his father and the date of his birth. On August 27, 2022, Fernandes netted his first goal of the year, volleying in the game’s lone goal in a 1-0 away victory at Southampton.
In United’s 3-0 home victory over Bournemouth on January 3, 2023, Fernandes made his 150th appearance for the team, assisting Marcus Rashford’s goal. Two weeks later, Fernandes helped United extend their winning streak to nine games overall when he scored and supplied an assist in a 2-1 comeback victory over rival Manchester City in the Manchester Derby. After scoring in United’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, Fernandes became the Manchester United midfielder with the second-most goal contributions in the Premier League, behind Paul Scholes. This marked his 100th goal contribution for the team. At Wembley Stadium on February 26, 2023, Fernandes started in the EFL Cup final as Manchester United defeated Newcastle United 2-0 to earn his first trophy with the team.
2023–present: Assuming the captaincy
On July 20, Fernandes was selected as the new club captain in place of Harry Maguire.
Bruno Fernandes International career
2012–2017: Youth level
Fernandes took part in the 2014 Toulon Tournament with the Portugal under-20s. He made four appearances in this campaign, scoring against Chile in a group stage match to help Portugal finish third
For a total of 28 caps, Fernandes played for Portugal at the under-19, under-20, under-21, and under-23 levels. He was selected captain of the under-21 team by coach Rui Jorge before making his international debut. He helped Portugal’s under-21 team qualify for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship by scoring four goals and dishing out four assists throughout their qualifying campaign. Fernandes participated at the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in June, assisting Portugal to a group stage finish and scoring the game’s first goal against Serbia.
Fernandes participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics for Portugal. As the team advanced to the quarterfinals, he started each game.
2017–2018: Senior and World Cup debuts
For the World Cup qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Hungary that would be contested the following month, Fernandes was initially selected on August 28, 2017, in place of the injured Pizzi. He did not, however, participate in either game. On November 10, 2017, when Portugal defeated Saudi Arabia 3-0 in a friendly, Fernandes earned his first complete cap. He took Manuel Fernandes’ place for the final 34 minutes of the match.
Fernando Santos subsequently chose him for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. On June 7 at the Estádio da Luz against Algeria in the final pre-tournament warm-up game, he scored his first goal with a header. On June 15, 2018, Fernandes played 66 minutes in a 3-3 group stage tie against Spain, receiving a booking in the process. This was his first World Cup game. Portugal was eliminated on June 30 after losing to Uruguay 2-1 in the round of 16.
2019–2021: Nations League title and subsequent struggles
During the league phase of the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League group stage, Fernandes was chosen for three games, which helped the host nation Portugal advance to the first Nations League Finals in June 2019. Fernandes participated in both games of the UEFA Nations League Finals, which Portugal won 1-0 over the Netherlands in Porto to take home the championship. He was included in the “Team of the Tournament” for his efforts during the contest.
Fernandes played in every game of Portugal’s eventual round of 16 exit and was nominated to the nation’s final roster for the postponed UEFA Euro 2020 competition. By the end of Portugal’s tournament run, Fernandes had transitioned from a starter to a substitute as a result of being overworked and overshadowed by other teammates, and he had received criticism for his performances during the competition.
2022–present: National team breakthrough
In order to guarantee Portugal’s qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Fernandes scored both goals in Portugal’s 2-0 victory over North Macedonia on March 29, 2022.
He was included in the final 26-man squad for the event after being named to Portugal’s preliminary 55-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in October. On November 25, Fernandes contributed two assists to Portugal’s 3-2 victory over Ghana in the group stage. Three days later, in a 2-0 victory over Uruguay, Fernandes scored both goals for Portugal, guaranteeing his team’s advancement to the knockout rounds.
In Portugal’s thumping 6-1 victory over Switzerland in the round of 16 on December 6, he assisted Pepe, who scored Portugal’s second goal and became the second-oldest player to ever score in the competition. Portugal was ousted from the World Cup in the quarterfinals after falling to Morocco, the first CAF country to ever go to the semifinals, 1-0.
Bruno Fernandes Player profile
Bruno Fernandes Style of play
Fernandes, an attacking midfielder, is a direct, vivacious box-to-box player who is able to both challenge defenders and establish the pace of the game. Fernandes’ directness also causes him to frequently take chances when choosing the kind and difficulty of the passes he tries to make. Nevertheless, despite his propensity for mistakes, he frequently presses the opposition immediately after giving the ball back to them. Fernandes has a strong goal scoring record while playing in the middle of the field. In addition to taking accurate free kicks and penalties, he frequently shoots from outside the penalty area.
His off-the-ball movement, in which he frequently wanders the attacking third of the field or dives deep to seize the ball, is also crucial. In addition to playing as an offensive midfielder, he can also play as a second striker or in a deeper central midfield position.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand praised Fernandes for his ability to score goals, saying that he “knows how to create chances …, who can for bit of imagination, creativity, the patience around the box, the ability to hit a ball from the edge of the box and put in the back of net, […] manipulate and take ball.” He was one of the players in the game who led by example, Ferdinand added in admiration of his leadership qualities. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former Manchester United coach, claimed that Fernandes was “a little bit of a mix between Paul Scholes and Juan Sebastián Verón.”
After surpassing former Chelsea player Frank Lampard’s record for most goals scored by a midfielder in a single season in Europe, Fernandes’ goal-scoring prowess has also drawn comparisons to Lampard.
Bruno Fernandes Goal celebration
In honor of his daughter Matilde, who plugs her ears to pretend she can’t hear him, Fernandes has developed a specific goal-scoring celebration throughout his career. After scoring a goal, he typically celebrates by doing the same.
Bruno Fernandes Sponsorship
Nike is a clothing manufacturer that sponsors Fernandes. He’s got Nike Mercurial Vapor shoes on.
Bruno Fernandes Wife
Ana Pinho and Bruno Fernandes are married.
Bruno Fernandes Personal life
Childhood girlfriend Ana Pinho travelled to Italy with Fernandes when he was 18 to join Novara; the two eventually got married in 2015. The couple has two children: Matilde, who was born on January 30, 2017, and Gonçalo, who will be six years old on September 6, 2020. His father, who was also a football player and wore the number 8 shirt during his playing career, and his birthdate are memorialized in tattoos on both of his arms. The letter F represents his last name, and the number 23 honors the fact that he made his Portugal national football team debut at the age of 23.
In addition to his native Portuguese, Fernandes speaks Spanish, English, and Italian with ease. He has some French as well.
Bruno Fernandes Net Worth
His predicted net worth in 2023 will be around $23 million.
Bruno Fernandes Social Media
- Instagram handle: Bruno Fernandes (@brunofernandes8)
- Facebook: Bruno Fernandes
- Twitter handle: Bruno Fernandes (@B_Fernandes8)
Bruno Fernandes Records
Most Premier League goals scored by a midfielder in a single season in Manchester United’s history (18 goals in the 2020–2021 season)
In 2020, a player will become the first in Premier League history to receive the honor four times in one year.
The 2018–2019 season had the most goals scored by a midfielder in a single season in the history of the Portuguese Primeira Liga (32 goals).
The 2018–2019 season saw the only player in the history of the Portuguese Primeira Liga score in nine straight away games.
In February 2020, a player became the first in UEFA Europa League history to win both the Player of the Month and Goal of the Month honours.
Bruno Fernandes Awards and Achievements
Sporting CP | Taça de Portugal: 2018–19 |
Taça da Liga: 2017–18, 2018–19 | |
Manchester United | EFL Cup: 2022–23 |
Portugal | UEFA Nations League: 2018–19 |
Individual | SJPF Young Player of the Month: August 2017, September 2017, October/November 2017, February 2018, April 2018 |
Primeira Liga Goal of the Month: August 2017, September 2017 | |
Primeira Midfielder of the Month: August 2017, October/November 2018, December 2018, January 2019, February 2019, March 2019, April 2019, August 2019, September 2019 | |
Primeira Liga Player of the Month: August 2017, September 2017, April 2018, December 2018, February 2019, March 2019, April 2019 | |
Primeira Liga Player of the Year: 2017–18, 2018–19 | |
Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2017–18, 2018–19 | |
UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21 | |
Sporting CP Footballer of the Year: 2018, 2019 | |
UEFA Nations League Finals Team of the Tournament: 2019 | |
PFA Fans’ Premier League Player of the Month: February 2020, June/July 2020 | |
PFA Team of the Year: 2020–21 Premier League | |
Premier League Player of the Month: February 2020, June 2020, November 2020, December 2020 | |
Premier League Goal of the Month: June 2020, February 2021 | |
UEFA Europa League top scorer: 2019–20 | |
Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2019–20, 2020–21 | |
ESM Team of the Year: 2020–21 |
How old is Bruno Fernandes?
The 8th of September 1994 saw the birth of Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes in Maia, Portugal.
He is 28 years old right now.
What is Bruno Fernandes Height?
Bruno Fernandes stands at 6 feet.
What Position does Bruno Fernandes play?
Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes is an offensive midfielder for both Manchester United and the Portuguese National Team.
Bruno Fernandes Parents – Who are Bruno Fernandes Parents?
Bruno Fernandes, a well-known midfielder for Manchester United, is the son of Jose and Virginia Borges.
What is Bruno Fernandes Net Worth?
Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes is estimated to be worth $11.6 million in total.
Did Bruno Fernandes won any trophy?
Bruno signed a new, long-term contract with the team in April 2022 as compensation for his efforts since joining from Sporting. The contract has a 2026 expiration date with a one-year extension option. In February 2023, as the Reds defeated Newcastle United 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final, he won his first trophy at United.
Where is Bruno Fernandes originally from?
Fernandes was born in Maia, a city in the Porto Metropolitan Area. He was a Manchester United and Boavista fan growing up. When he was younger, Fernandes and his older brother Ricardo, who was also a professional football player, used to play football on the streets.
How much did Man United pay for Bruno Fernandes?
Achievable add-ons were included in the initial £47 million cost United paid for the player’s services, and one of those add-ons is said to have been activated once the team earned a spot in the Champions League for the upcoming season.
How many penalty goals does Bruno have?
There were 48 penalties in total.
Has Bruno Fernandes won the Golden Boot?
OFFICIAL: Bruno Fernandes won the Europa League Golden Boot for the 2019–20 season after scoring 8 goals, the most in the competition this year.