Bruno Fernandes Reflects on Near Move to Watford Before Joining Manchester United

Manchester United saw their captain produce a historic campaign this season as Michael Carrick guided the club back into the Champions League.

No player symbolized United’s resurgence more than Bruno Fernandes, who ended the season by breaking the Premier League single-season assist record with 21 assists.

The Portuguese midfielder once again proved why he remains the heartbeat of the side after another campaign full of goals, creativity, and leadership.

But things could have turned out very differently for Fernandes long before his move to Old Trafford.

Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, the United captain revealed he was once extremely close to joining Watford on loan during his early years in Italy.

Bruno Fernandes started his senior career with Novara in Serie B before earning a move to Udinese Calcio in 2013, where he began building a reputation as one of Portugal’s brightest midfield talents.

Bruno Fernandes nearly joined Watford

During that spell, Watford nearly became his next destination due to the close ownership links between the two clubs.

“To be honest I was on the edge of coming to Watford on loan… because it’s [Udinese and Watford] the same owners.”

Fernandes explained that the initial plan from Udinese was for him to leave temporarily due to the size of the squad at the time.

“Udinese had a big squad and they said ‘we going to send you to Watford’.”

However, the move eventually collapsed after a dramatic change of heart at the Italian club.

“The Sporting Director called me and said we don’t want you to go anymore, the manager wants you to stay, he says he loves you and he loves your attitude.”

Fernandes then revealed what he was told by the club regarding his future under manager Francesco Guidolin.

“You told me that I might not play much that season but he is sure I was the type of player to succeed at the club.”

The Portugal international would later continue his rise in the game before starring for Sporting CP, where he became one of Europe’s most wanted midfielders.

Fernandes also came close to joining Tottenham Hotspur before eventually completing his move to Manchester United in January 2020.

United signed the midfielder from Sporting for an initial fee of £47 million, a deal which has since proven to be one of the club’s smartest moves of the modern era.

Now, after producing the best season of his career and rewriting Premier League history with 21 assists, Fernandes has cemented himself as one of the defining figures of Carrick’s new-look Manchester United side.