Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag has found his next Bruno Fernandes as ‘transfer talks open

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has drawn comparisons between Bruno Fernandes and Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, whom he previously coached at Utrecht

Bruno Fernandes is loved by Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag and it is not only because of the Portuguese star’s immense skillset.

Fernandes is a virtual ever-present for the Red Devils. He played more first-team minutes than any other footballer in Europe last season, starting in 58 matches across all competitions for Ten Hag’s side – with his stamina and engine unmatched.

This explains United’s interest in signing Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat – the Moroccan international who previously played under Ten Hag at FC Utrecht. United have opened talks over a possible deal for the midfielder this summer to bolster their ranks.

Whenever coaching the holding midfielder in the Eredivisie, Ten Hag was not shy of explaining his qualities and why he rated him so highly. Amrabat’s longevity and ability to make himself available for selection and give his all on the pitch were highly valued.

As quoted by Dutch outlet AD, Ten Hag said: “Souf is imperturbable, unyielding. That is an additional quality. He will and must play, even if he has to go over five walls or through five walls. And even if he has to fight for it for weeks or months.”

Paying closer attention, this is remarkably similar to Ten Hag’s assessment of Fernandes. The Portuguese star has captained United in multiple games under the boss with Harry Maguire not in the team – showing how highly his skillset is valued.