17 February 2024 , 05:00
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Bruno Fernandes was arguably the most significant signing Manchester United made after parting company with Jose Mourinho, but that didn't spare the midfielder from interacting with the Portuguese coach.
After months of speculation, Fernandes arrived at Old Trafford in the final stages of the January transfer window back in 2020 in a £47million deal and quickly established himself as one of United's most influential players.
He plundered 12 goals in his first 22 matches during the second half of the 2020/21 campaign, including one in a tense 1-1 draw with Tottenham in June. His antics in the same match, though, drew the ire of Mourinho, who by then had taken the top job at Spurs.
Fernandes both scored a penalty and won a spot-kick during the match, however, the penalty he won was later overturned by VAR after the midfielder was judged to have dived following a coming together with Eric Dier.
Mourinho, of course, reacted in his own way post-match. After making a beeline for his compatriot after the match, he gently slapped Fernandes on the face in a patronising manner.
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Fernandes didn't rise to the bait, though, and instead stared Mourinho out before the Spurs boss walked off. Mourinho still senses the opportunity to take one more dig in his post-match interview.
"Fernandes comes from a country that I know well," he said. Mourinho then went on to suggest that Fernandes should have been booked for simulation, adding: "The second one [penalty] was incredible for me. If VAR goes for simulation, the players could be exposed and given a yellow card. I feel really upset with these two decisions."
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Mourinho joined Spurs after being sacked by United in 2018 (Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)Since then, Fernandes' stature has only grown, as has his influence at Manchester United. The former Sporting Lisbon star was even made captain by Erik ten Hag this summer after the Dutchman stripped Harry Maguire of the armband.
Mourinho, meanwhile, is currently unattached after being sacked by AS Roma last month after two-and-a-half years at the helm. He took the job shortly after leaving Tottenham.
The 61-year-old was linked with a lucrative switch to Saudi Arabia with Al-Shabab before shooting down said rumours. It has recently emerged that Mourinho has set his sights on the Bayern Munich job with Thomas Tuchel currently under pressure.
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