Ryan Giggs believes Bruno Fernandes’ arrival has ‘lifted’ Manchester United and predicts the midfielder will get ‘even better’ when he gets more games under his belt.
Fernandes has hit the ground running after completing a £67.6million move from Sporting to Old Trafford in January, racking up three goals and two assists in his opening six appearances for United.
It’s clear Fernandes has already had an enormous impact on his team-mates and the Red Devils are yet to suffer defeat in a game which the 25-year-old has started.
The Portugal international is expected to keep his place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI when United take to the field at Pride Park for their FA Cup fifth-round clash with Derby County on Thursday night.
‘He’s a fantastic player,’ United legend Giggs told Sky Sports.
‘He’s lifted the place, he has lifted everyone around him and it’s still early days. I still think he can get even better.
‘He’s hit the ground running which is what you want – especially signing in the January transfer window because it doesn’t always happen.
‘But he’s fantastic and I’m pleased to see him doing so well.’
Arsenal legend Ian Wright, like Giggs, has backed Fernandes to improve on his impressive start when his new team-mates have a better understanding of his game.
‘He’s put up massive numbers in Portugal and everyone thought, “Well, it’s just the Portuguese league”,’ Wright told Match of the Day 2.
‘What will happen as time goes by is his team-mates will get used to him and what he can do.
‘I can’t wait to see what happens when they do get used to him.
‘Look at how sharp he is, this is what Manchester United weren’t doing before.
‘Everything was so slow and methodical before he signed.’
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