James Maddison turned to watching the Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes in hope of improving his own game and getting back into the England squad.
Maddison oversaw a three-year stint of being excluded from his international side. After an outstanding start to the 2022/2023 campaign, he has been selected in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad to play at the World Cup.
In only 13 Premier League games, the Englishman has netted seven goals and contributed four assists. He has been instrumental in Leicester City’s progression up the table, after a shaky start that saw them in the relegation zone for several matches.
Fernandes has always been invaluable to United – he is what keeps the cogs turning. His first full season in Red saw him hit remarkable numbers for a midfielder; 28 goals and 17 assists. Even without the numbers, his impact on the pitch in terms of creativity, pressing and leadership makes him worth his weight in gold for the Red Devils.
Maddison studied Fernandes
He said this week, as per the Daily Mail: “A couple of seasons ago, when I wasn’t in the England squad, Bruno Fernandes was playing very well for Manchester United and putting up ridiculous numbers in terms of goals and assists.
“So I probably watched him a bit closer at that time. ‘How is he scoring so many goals? What runs is he making that I’m not?’. If that makes me a student of the game, then that’s what I am.
“I watch every game. My house is football mad. My girlfriend goes crazy because I watch so much. During the lockdown, when there were four games a day, I had them all on.”