Mateus Fernandes has named Bruno Fernandes as his idol despite deciding to join Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Manchester United. The 21-year-old midfielder, who had an impressive season at West Ham, attracted interest from several top clubs including Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Fernandes chooses Spurs over United
Fernandes was understood to have made United his preferred destination, but the club refused to meet West Ham's valuation. This allowed Spurs to agree an £85 million deal with West Ham after United said they would not match the offer. Tottenham finished two points above the Premier League relegation zone last season.
In his first set of interviews with Spurs, Fernandes gave a clear indication that he would have relished the prospect of linking up with United captain Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford. When asked to name his idol in a TikTok Q&A, Fernandes quickly named his Portuguese countryman.
De Zerbi key to move
Fernandes also revealed that manager Roberto De Zerbi played a crucial role in convincing him to make the move to Spurs. 'I’m very happy, I’m very excited for this next step,' Fernandes told Spurs Play. 'Of course, it’s a massive club. I already know the city, the country. I spoke with the manager. I think he was the main key for me to join Tottenham and the project. We will fight for Premier League. We will fight for the first place.'
'The way he [De Zerbi] spoke with me, my family, it was very special for me, with my family, it was very special for me and my family. I’m very excited to meet him, to meet the fans, to meet everyone, try to do my best and enjoy the moment.'
'I think we need this type of people, not just as a manager, but as a guy to try to take everything of you. It can be very special for me. I fully believe in him and this club. The way he spoke about me to my family, with me, made the decision easy.'
Ready for the challenge
Fernandes expressed his readiness for the next step in his career. 'I’m ready for this next step. I’m ready for this pressure. It’s one thing that I work for. So, I’m very excited to play for a big club, for a manager that wants to win titles.'
