BRUNO FERNANDES HAS added a new dimension to Manchester United’s play, according to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who believes the Portugal international provides an “X-factor”.
Fernandes – a long-term target for United – arrived late in the January transfer window from Sporting CP in a deal worth £46.5million (€55m) up front and up to £21.1m (€25m) in add-ons.
Since signing, Fernandes has made three Premier League starts, netting his maiden United goal in a 3-0 victory over Watford at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The 25-year-old’s impact has delighted Solskjaer, who has previously compared the playmaker to former United players Paul Scholes and Juan Sebastian Veron.
“We feel we’ve added some X-factor quality with Bruno,” Solskjaer told a news conference ahead of United’s Europa League clash with Club Brugge on Thursday.
“Scott [McTominay] has developed, Nemanja [Matic] and Fred have done well. The addition of Bruno gives us a bit of a different flavour.
“He likes to play forward passes and take risks, which a Man United player should do. His imagination and his overview of the picture is a couple of seconds ahead of many players. It is one of his strengths that he knows what he wants to do. He can change his mind in a split-second. That composure has been important.
“We want to develop that X-factor. He’s come in and impressed everyone but we don’t want to put a limit on what he can do.”