Fernandes has already shown that he can bend it like Beckham
IT’S easy to forget just how good David Beckham was for United.
Because of his celebrity profile, his ascension to world superstar status and the furore with Sir Alex Ferguson that surrounded his exit from Old Trafford, the footballing achievements can become lost somewhere.
But he was incredible. Talented, hard-working and passionate about the club he loved.
United’s Treble victory of 1999 would surely not have been possible without Beckham. His best performances came in the most important matches, famously sending in the two corners from which Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the vital goals in Barcelona.
Beckham came second in the Ballon D’Or running in 1999. He may have won the award outright had other United players - Roy Keane, Dwight Yorke and Jaap Stam (who all finished in the top 12) - not diluted the voting.
The only player to match such outrageous heights while wearing a United shirt since has been Cristiano Ronaldo. He was also the man who took over from Beckham in the No.7 shirt once the former England captain had left for Real Madrid - a career path the Portuguese followed.
But United never truly replaced Beckham’s unique skill-set.
Free-kicks were certainly one area that became a frustration for United fans accustomed to seeing them fly into the net with regularity. Not even Ronaldo, nor Wayne Rooney or Ryan Giggs could produce the consistency Beckham brought from dead-ball situations. Corner-taking was a similar issue, it remained a problem at Old Trafford for years.
But maybe Solskjaer, now as manager, has stumbled upon a player who can replicate what Beckham brought to United on the field.
Bruno Fernandes’ first few appearances suggest he has the same kind of passion and the leadership qualities Beckham possessed.
The Portuguese playmaker has been unafraid to stamp his authority despite being new to the team. It’s been much appreciated by his United team-mates, with Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof noting Fernandes’ mentality, just as Beckham was always a very popular member of the Old Trafford dressing room.
Fernandes has also shown himself to be very capable from set-pieces, scoring two penalties and setting up Anthony Martial to score against City with a delightfully-worked free-kick routine. He also swung in the corner from which Harry Maguire scored at Chelsea.
Fernandes has significantly improved the Reds’ output from set-play situations and it’s only a matter of time before the 25-year-old scores direct from a free-kick himself.
Whether Fernandes will ever get to the higher echelons of Ballon D’Or voting is another matter. That will depend on the quality around him, which undoubtedly benefitted Beckham.
Fernandes needs a Keane and a Giggs around him to turn United into title contenders once again. That is a work in progress for Solskjaer right now.
But the Norwegian may satisfy himself in the knowledge that in January he found a player with that Red streak in him. That United attitude would make you millions if you could bottle and sell it. Beckham had it, now United have finally found someone who can emulate the Old Trafford icon.