Bruno Fernandes reportedly broke down in tears when his proposed transfer to Tottenham Hotspur collapsed in the summer of 2019, according to sources. The now-Manchester United captain was eager to play in the Premier League and had hoped Sporting Lisbon would finalise a deal with the north London club.
Fernandes, then emerging as one of Europe's top playmakers, was identified by Spurs as a player who could boost their title ambitions following a Champions League final appearance. Although a fee was reportedly agreed, the structure of the deal could not be settled, and the Portuguese international remained in Lisbon for another six months.
An unnamed source told the Daily Mail: 'That felt a bit typical at the time. When push came to shove, the club didn't get it done. Then the same thing happened with Luis Diaz at Porto. He ended up at Liverpool.' Fernandes eventually joined Manchester United in January 2020 for £60 million, quickly becoming a fan favourite.
Since his arrival, Fernandes has made 259 appearances for United, scoring 85 goals and providing 76 assists. He inherited the captaincy from Harry Maguire at the start of the 2023-24 season and was a consistent performer under Erik ten Hag, even suggesting players should take responsibility for the Dutchman's sacking in October.
Under new manager Ruben Amorim, Fernandes has been deployed in various midfield roles, though neither seems a perfect fit. Regardless, the 30-year-old views his failed Spurs move as a sliding-doors moment, having been United's standout player for five years.
