Manchester United completes deal for Sporting's Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United has made a significant move as the transfer window winds down, signing Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes.
United made the announcement on the club website, with Sky Sports reporting the fee is a little over $88 million.
🔴 🤝 🇵🇹#MUFC is delighted to announce the signing of Bruno Fernandes!
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 30, 2020
A roundly talented attacking midfielder, the 25-year-old Fernandes has scored 64 goals for Sporting and was reportedly the subject of a bidding war this week between United and Barcelona, which entered the fray late.
The Red Devils were believed to have upped their offer to the $88 million figure that seems to have gotten the deal done. Barcelona’s offer was rumored to be higher, but much of the payments would have been deferred to the summer. United’s offer includes $61 million up front, according to the BBC.
In any event, the news comes amid deafening silence at Old Trafford surrounding the club’s recent struggles and apparent lack of a defined plan. Fans are so upset that on Tuesday, a group of them reportedly took the absurd and inappropriate step of storming club CEO Ed Woodward’s house and throwing flares while chanting death threats.
Manchester United sold longtime defender Ashley Young to Inter Milan earlier this window, and Fernandes represents the first signing for the club since this past summer’s spending spree that netted Harry Maguire, Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. There’s also been talk of Paul Pogba seeking an exit from United this summer, and the addition of Fernandes would help limit the blow.
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