Manuel Fernandes

Lore & Background

Fernandes started his career at Italian Serie B side Novara but soon made a move to Serie A side Udinese in 2013, followed by Sampdoria three years later. After five years in Italy, he signed with Sporting CP in 2017. He won back-to-back Taças da Liga in 2018 and 2019, as well as the Taça de Portugal, leading to him being named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year and Primeira Liga Player of the Year in both seasons. In 2018–19, he scored a record of 33 goals in all competitions, making him the highest-scoring Portuguese midfielder and the highest-scoring midfielder in Europe in a single season. In January 2020, Fernandes signed with Manchester United for an initial €55 million (£47 million). He has made more than 300 appearances for the club, winning the FA Cup and EFL Cup, and reaching the UEFA Europa League final in 2021 and 2025, being the competition's top scorer in those two seasons. In 2026, he was awarded the FWA Footballer of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season and PFA Players' Player of the Year. He also won the Premier League Playmaker of the Season for registering 21 assists, breaking the record for most assists in a single Premier League season. Fernandes made his senior international debut in 2017, and has been capped more than 90 times. He was chosen in Portugal's squads for the FIFA World Cup in 2018, 2022 and 2026, the UEFA European Championship in 2020 and 2024, and the UEFA Nations League Finals in 2019 and 2025, winning the latter competition both times.

In Their Own Story

The Estádio da Luz was humming, that low, electric buzz that builds before kickoff on a European night. Fernandes stood in the centre circle, hands on his hips, scanning the German shape. He could feel the weight of the season in his calves, the ache of another 90-minute grind. But he knew his job. Not to dazzle. Not to score. Just to be there — the wall, the pivot, the first pass after the tackle. The whistle blew. A boot met leather. And for ninety minutes, the midfield breathed because he was breathing for it. When the fourth goal went in, he was the last one to celebrate, already turning back to press the opposition's back three. The crowd roared for the scorers. But the bench, the coaching staff, the fans who truly understood the game — they nodded at the midfielder who never stopped running.

Reader's Guide

Fernandes began his youth career at local club Infesta, later playing most of his youth football with Boavista, starting as a centre-back before being converted to an attacking midfielder at age 15. He joined Novara in Italy on 27 August 2012, making his first-team debut in Serie B. In summer 2013, he signed for Udinese in a co-ownership deal, making his Serie A debut on 3 November 2013. On 16 August 2016, he moved to Sampdoria on loan with an obligation to buy. On 27 June 2017, he joined Sporting CP on a five-year deal. On 29 January 2020, Manchester United confirmed an agreement to sign him; the transfer was completed the following day. He made his debut on 1 February 2020.

Did You Know?

• Fernandes was born in Maia, Metropolitan Area of Porto.
• He supported Boavista and Manchester United growing up.
• He was nicknamed the 'Maradona of Novara' and the 'Mini Rui Costa' during his time in Italy.
• He scored a hat-trick in an 8–1 away rout of Belenenses SAD on 5 May 2019.
• He broke the record for most assists in a single Premier League season with 21 assists in 2026.