IRON BRU
Bruno Fernandes has the goals, vision and fiery temper to emulate Man Utd legend Paul Scholes, says Solskjaer
BRUNO FERNANDES is already being dubbed Manchester United’s new Paul Scholes.
Goals galore? Tick. Countless assists? Tick. Fiery temper? Tick - the £55million Portuguese ace even wears the No 18, just like Scholes.
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And Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is convinced his new midfielder has all the tools to emulate the Old Trafford legend.
Fernandes is expected to make his debut off the bench as United host Wolves this weekend.
And of his new midfielder, Solskjaer said: “He is a great leader, a very assured performer and he is a great human being too. He can do absolutely everything.”
No pressure, then, Bruno.
The 25-year-old does not come across as the type to get himself all blinged up and maybe dye his hair red.
He is a goalscoring and assisting midfielder, a little bit like Paul Scholes. He can strike a ball fantastically.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Even if his new manager sees him as the new Ginger Prince of Old Trafford.
The Portuguese playmaker declares another Manchester United legend in Cristiano Ronaldo as his icon.
And Solskjaer believes the man who arrived in a £55million deal from Sporting Lisbon this week is former team-mate Scholes in everything but looks.
The Norwegian had just told the media how excited he was to have signed Fernandes when a certain Paul Pogba was driven into training yesterday morning.
He was showing off a very fetching blond rinse as he rode shotgun in a Range Rover.
But as boss Solskjaer and before him Jose Mourinho found, looks don’t mean much.
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On the pitch, despite a £150million price tag, the Frenchman hasn’t done a lot.
Pogba’s career at the Theatre of Dreams has turned into a bonfire of the vanities.
While Fernandes, according to Ole, will fire up his team-mates.
Solskjaer says he not only comes with similar talent to Scholes - who scored 155 goals in 718 games over 20 seasons that saw him win 11 titles and two Champions Leagues.
The Norwegian fawned: “He is a goalscoring and assisting midfielder, a little bit like Paul Scholes. He can strike a ball fantastically.
He’s a great leader, a very assured performer and he is a great human being too.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
“He’s got such a wonderful technique but he also is going to get assists from set plays and from his range of passes.
“He is a similar type to Scholesy - fiery, passionate, hates losing and that same number on the back of the shirt.
“Bruno hates losing. I’ve seen it. But he uses his anger to help his team mates. He is a leader and that is one of the boxes that had to be ticked.
“He’s a great leader, a very assured performer and he is a great human being too.
“We wanted him to come in and be that leader and I’ve spoken to him about that.”
Fernandes fell in love with United when Ronaldo started playing for the club.
Solskjaer called Ronaldo for his assessment of his Portugal pal before finalising the deal.
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Fernandes said: “I talked about Manchester United with Cristiano. He just said good things about United.
“He said he started living his dream here and started being a really good player here. I think he is happy with my transfer.
“I talked with Ole and he said he asked Cristiano about me and he said good things about me which is good.”
Solskjaer, while happy to name him “the new Scholes” warns against the 25-year-old being hyped as another Ronaldo.
Fernandes said: “I saw many games in Portugal as they show the games there and I followed Manchester United more when Cristiano was here.
“He’s a big player and I see him as an idol.”
Solskjaer added: “Cristiano is unique and we just hope Bruno will come in here and have a fantastic career. He has already given the players a boost.
“Just by meeting him they can see what type of human being he is, his personality, but to start comparing him with Cristiano is not fair on the boy.
“But I do think he is another piece in the jigsaw.
We want to try to build towards trophies so we want to keep our best players.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
“I am sure he will give us that X factor that we have been missing at times this year.
“It’s an important piece in the puzzle we are trying to solve.”
Pogba, had he been fit this season - or not pining to leave for the past two - was meant to bring that X factor.
Solskjaer insists the pair could make a big splash together.
He said: “We want to try to build towards trophies so we want to keep our best players.”
Ole then delivered Fernandes’ job description: “Bruno can do absolutely everything.
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“He is probably not a target man but such a good footballer.
“He can play in a three-man midfield, he can play as a No 10, he can play in off the side, in a diamond - we’ll give him time to find his best position.”
That position, wherever it is, was supposed to be filled by Pogba.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hails the arrival of Bruno Fernandes at Man Utd
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