Along with the new Manchester United home jersey launch it was announced that Bruno Fernandes would wear the No.8 shirt next season. The Portuguese playmaker has now explained in an interview why he was determined to get his hands the new squad number.
Fernandes scooped the No.8 shirt that had been vacated by Juan Mata at the end of the season, with the Spaniard leaving the club last month following the expiry of his contract, which ultimately means he will leave the No.18 shirt behind.
We might not give the number to someone instantly but I’m sure it won’t be long before there is a new No.18 in town.
When I think about the United shirt number I wanted, I would have taken any… 43, 17, 61… but I guess Fernandes deserves the right to ask for his favourite number after recently signing a new deal to extend his stay at Old Trafford.
While there was always a feeling that Fernandes would get the No.8 shirt following Mata’s departure, we didn’t know that he has family connections to the number.
Fernandes revealed more in a clip with club media.
“That shirt means a lot [to me],” Fernandes told MUTV. “There is a history behind that [number] because my father, when he used to be a player, he was playing with a number eight.
“He quit from football because he had an offer from work, and obviously at that time for me and my brothers and for all the family it was better that he had proper work than [to] keep playing football.
“[The number eight] is the number he was using for two years. Because it was also his dream [to be a footballer], it makes my dream a little bit of him.”
Fernandes will be trying to impress the new manager on tour because like a lot of players last season, the Portuguese Magnifico was not at his best at any stage of the season.
Hopefully, they all get a good pre-season tour under their belt with any injuries or niggles.
