UNITED HAVE FOUND THEIR NEW SCHOLES
TREBLE-WINNER David May has claimed Bruno Fernandes is priceless after a stunning start to his Manchester United career. And the former Old Trafford defender believes United have finally found someone to fill the boots of the legendary Paul Scholes.
Since arriving in January, Portuguese midfield maestro Fernandes has had a transformational effect – just like Eric Cantona did in 1993 when he triggered a title-winning run that lasted two decades.
Not only has he become United’s main man, he’s also inspired Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and even Paul Pogba with an intoxicating mix of quality and mentality.
And 1999 hero May believes you couldn’t put a price on Fernandes now – despite Sporting Lisbon’s vicepresident claiming United overpaid by forking out an initial £59.2million in January.
Sporting director Francisco Salgago Zenha said: “I realised in negotiations United were convinced we’d give in and
MARSEILLE have made a move to sign Manchester United left-back Diogo Dalot on a season-long loan after he fell down the Old Trafford pecking order. The Portuguese under-21 international looks to be on his way out of United after Timothy Fosu-mensah was preferred for Thursday night’s win over Crystal Palace. they’d be doing the deal for €50m.
“They were wrong and ended up paying €65m – €20m more than if we had sold him last summer.
“They overpaid.”
But May reckons even if United end up splashing out the full £72m with add-ons Fernandes will still be an unbelievable bargain.
“You couldn’t put a price tag on him now – he’s become that vital to United in the space of a few months,” said May.
“There was talk United overpaid – you must be joking. If we’d known what he was going to be like then he’s a snip.”
May joined United from Blackburn in 1994 and spent several seasons playing alongside United legend Cantona.
And he sees clear comparisons in the way Cantona and Fernandes transformed their teams.
May said: “Eric was the catalyst for much of what United achieved in the years after that first title in 1993.
“His whole mentality changed United’s dressing room at that time and drove them on.
Fernandes is doing the same. He’s only been there a few months but already he’s the boss, players follow his lead.
“It takes special qualities for a player to come into a big club like United and have an instant impact on everyone.
“Look at the way Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are performing. He’s got them flying which is huge – and that’s directly down to Bruno.”
May was unsure he’d ever see another midfielder in the Scholes mould.
But in Fernandes he believes United have a star who can stand comparison.
May said: “I remember Scholesy saying he could sometimes see a pass even before he had the ball.
“Some of Bruno’s creativity at Crystal Palace was just fantastic.
“I can see Scholesy in a lot he does. In his pomp,
Paul dictated the tempo, he could play a blind pass and score and
Bruno does all of that.
“Maybe the greatest compliment I could pay him is that Sir
Alex Ferguson would have loved him in his team.”