Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has branded Bruno Fernandes the club’s most important player.
United are set to take on French outfit Olympique Lyonnais later tonight in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie.
With United currently languishing in 13th place with seven top-flight games left to play, the Europa League remains their only way of clinching silverware and qualifying for Europe.
Pre-match discussions have largely revolved around Andre Onana and Nemanja Matic, following a heated exchange triggered by the Cameroonian goalkeeper’s assertion that Manchester United are far better than Lyon.
However, according to Varane, Fernandes is the key player to watch and could prove to be the decisive factor for United.
Having spent three years at Old Trafford between 2021 and 2024, Varane is well-acquainted with Fernandes and is therefore well-positioned to provide an informed assessment of the midfielder.
L’Equipe [via SportWitness] spoke to a few Frenchmen about Fernandes and unsurprisingly, Varane was one of them.
The four-time Champions League winner told the news outlet, “He’s the heart of the team, one of the players who defends the most, he runs everywhere.”
“He gives a lot of himself on the pitch, and off it, because he’s really involved in team life.”
L’Equipe also relayed the sentiments of Jérémy Mathieu, who played with Fernandes at Sporting CP.
Mathieu explained, “Certainly, Bruno can be a bit annoying when he complains because a teammate misses a pass, while he himself could sometimes play more simply.”
“But when you take stock of his leadership, it is very positive because Bruno naturally commands the team and speaks up in the locker room when necessary. He is a star, but he is constantly thinking about the group.”
The Peoples Person recently highlighted statistics that present a strong argument for Fernandes being the most complete midfielder in football today.
It’s encouraging to see that those who have played alongside him also recognise his influence and impact on the pitch.
Lyon vs. United kicks off at 20:00 BST.
Featured image Nathan Stirk via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
