Bernardo Silva reveals he told pal Bruno Fernandes to join Man Utd… now wants to inflict his first defeat in derby
WHEN Bruno Fernandes was weighing up Manchester United’s offer, there was one man he had to call.
Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva became one of the midfielder’s closest pals after the pair first played together for Portugal Under-19s almost a decade ago.
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So when Fernandes got the call from United, he turned to someone who has lived in the city for almost three years.
Bernardo knew Old Trafford was just the right place for him and that at 25 it is the perfect opportunity to come to England.
So it comes as no surprise to the former Monaco man that his friend has settled in so well across town.
Tomorrow their friendship will be forgotten as their sides go head-to-head in the Manchester derby.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will look to his £46.6million January signing to help extend United’s nine-match unbeaten run.
Bernardo said: “I’m not surprised how well he has started because he’s a great player.
“He’s a good friend of mine, I’ve played with him since we were in the Under-19s with Portugal.
“He asked me about Manchester and I said what I thought was right.
“It’s a great club for him, it’s a great opportunity and he’s doing great.
“I’m happy for him because he’s a friend — but I just don’t want him to win on Sunday. I want to beat him obviously.
“It’s a very special game for the players, and for the fans and we want to give them this win.
“But I’m happy for him, he’s had a great start.”
Fernandes has already become something of a talisman for United — as well as a huge fan favourite on the Stretford End.
Bernardo believes his Portugal team-mate is a natural leader — with those qualities already showing through. He added: “Bruno has a great work-rate, very intelligent and he’s a guy who arrives very well in the box, scores a lot of goals, gets assists.
“He was Sporting Lisbon’s captain for more than two seasons and he was the leader there and I think he can be a leader at Manchester United as well.
“He’s a crucial player and is showing that in the first few weeks.”
Fernandes was linked with a move to City and Tottenham before he eventually got his long-drawn out move to United.
Bernardo was surprised he was not snapped up sooner by one of the Premier League’s big guns as he has so much to offer — providing he is given time to show it.
He said: “I don’t know why. He was quite expensive and sometimes it’s not easy to get a player like Bruno.
“Teams always demand so much money for players like him. But I think he’s worth the value that they paid and he’s showing it right now.
“I think the people should stay calm though. Even though he’s a great player it’s just the beginning. People should give him space to work and to do his job well.
“It’s a good start and hopefully he can keep going. But he can handle the pressure, yes.”
The pair’s long-standing friendship will be put to one side for 90 minutes tomorrow afternoon.
Old Trafford is a happy hunting ground for City under Pep Guardiola — who has won each of his four visits since taking charge at the Etihad.
Bernardo, also 25, has flourished there too — breaking the deadlock in City’s 3-1 league win in April, which proved crucial to their title triumph.
Then in January, the Portuguese scored a stunning opener as City ran riot in the first half of the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Bernardo told Sport360: “It’s a good memory, last time we went to Old Trafford, it was one of my best goals.
“But we have played three times there since I came and we have always won so it’s been good for me. We know how difficult it is to play there.
“When you play against a team like United with their fans, the history and everything, it’s always special to play them. A derby is always a great game, requires pressure and passion from the fans.”
While United are unbeaten in their last nine matches, City are also coming to the boil nicely.
They have won all five matches since their winter break — with four of them coming away from the Etihad.
Having won at Leicester and Real Madrid at the end of last month, the journey across town should hold no fears for them.
And Bernardo says they will make the trip in good spirits after wins in three different competitions in the last couple of weeks.
The £43m ace said: “We feel good, we feel we are in a good run.
“We have won the Carabao Cup, now in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
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“And the Champions League first leg was quite good for us after what happened in Madrid. So hopefully we can now keep it going.
“We are used to playing big games and these are the games we like to play.
“We know we can’t get the title any more but it’s important to qualify for the Champions League as quickly as possible and to get second place.”