Manchester United have maintained a strong connection with Portugal over the last two decades. Current head coach Ruben Amorim is from the country, as was former manager Jose Mourinho. Here is a comprehensive list of all the Portuguese players to have ever played for the Red Devils. Every Portuguese player to play for Man United PlayerAppearancesGoalsYears Active Cristiano Ronaldo3461452003-2009, 2021-2022 Bruno Fernandes3051002020- Nani230412007-2015 Diogo Dalot223102018-. Joel Pereira 302012-2021 Source: transfermarkt.com Figures correct as of 5th December 2025 1) Cristiano Ronaldo The former United superstar is not only one of the most iconic players in the club’s illustrious history, but also in world football. He arrived as a scrawny teenager and left as a Ballon d’Or winner, lifting the trophy in 2008. Ronaldo went on to win multiple Champions League titles with Real Madrid. He finally returned to Old Trafford in 2021 after years of speculation, but his comeback rarely lived up to the hype. The Portuguese legend left the club under a cloud in 2022 after a controversial interview with Piers Morgan, in which he criticised the ownership of the club and then manager Erik ten Hag. 2) Bruno Fernandes The Manchester United captain has arguably been one of, if not the best, signings of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at the club. He instantly struck a chord with the United fanbase through his creative, risk-taking style and his fight on the pitch. Fernandes has helped his side lift the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, and has narrowly missed out twice on the Europa League trophy. He recently scored his 100th goal for the club in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea. 3) Nani The winger joined the club from Sporting CP, just like Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. He played a key part in United’s Premier League and Champions League victories in his debut season, scoring a penalty in the Champions League final victory over Chelsea in 2008. Nani was often criticised for his performances, but was also a victim of the era in which he played at the club. The winger was often sensational but was unfairly compared to legends of the game like Wayne Rooney or his compatriot, Ronaldo. 4) Diogo Dalot Dalot joined the club from FC Porto in 2018, but took a while to break into the first team. He went out on loan to AC Milan in 2020 and finally became a United regular in the 2021-2022 season. The full-back has not always performed consistently for the Red Devils, but has always given his all for the cause. 5) Joel Pereira The goalkeeper arrived at the United academy in 2012 as a 16-year-old and stayed until 2019. He joined Reading in 2023 and has finally found first-team football, signing a new deal in 2025. – The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Manchester United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
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