Ferdinand has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani supported Manchester United’s decision to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
After weeks of negotiations, Solskjaer’s side have finally landed the Portugese star in an €80 million deal from Sporting.
‘I’ve spoken to a few of his teammates at national level and club level,’ Ferdinand told FIVE.
‘Nani, my old teammate, says he’s a fantastic player, says he’s perfect for England. Says he’s got all the tools, all the right attributes.
‘Cristiano said he’s fantastic, creates chances for him. He can manipulate the ball, take the ball, confident. These is the type of things that you want to hear when Manchester United are signing a player.
‘So fans, based on what I’ve heard about him and what I’ve seen, I’m hopeful and confident that this guy can go out there and do the job.’
Ferdinand also believes that Bruno Fernandes could be the answer to United’s struggles when they face clubs who set up to be compact at the theatre of dreams.
‘He’s a player who knows how to create chances,’ said Ferdinand.
‘Man United have not found it difficult when they’ve had to counter-attack teams, when teams have come on to them and they’ve had a little bit less possession they’ve been able to counter-attack with the speed and pace they’ve got up front.
‘But where they’ve found it hard and difficult is when they’ve played against teams who sit there and wait, especially at Old Trafford.
‘[Teams] who wait to be beaten, who play tight lines between their players, they’ve found it difficult when there isn’t space in behind for those road runners to run on to.
‘But this is where someone like Bruno Fernandes can come in and play a pivotal role for Manchester United.
‘He’s a certain person who can look for that bit of imagination, that creativity, that patience around the box, that ability to hit the ball from the edge of the box and score a screamer.
‘This is what Manchester United have been missing, especially with Paul Pogba out.
‘And mentioning Paul Pogba, what does that mean for someone like Bruno Fernandes coming in? Well I think he can only enhance someone like him.
‘Someone who has got something to play for by the way. This summer is the Euros, he’s going to want to be part of this French team who are probably the favourites to win.
‘He will want to be playing there, I know he’s the type of guy he is, he’s a competitor, he’s a winner, and we want to see that in a Man United shirt.
‘He will have that appetite there to perform for Man United. Even if he’s using that to get into the French team, Man United have to actually take that and take that on board.
‘Man United’s midfield – [Scott] McTominay, Pogba, Bruno Fernandes – it’s got a nice ring to it. ‘Listen, this isn’t a formality, this isn’t a guarantee he’s going to perform.
‘It’s not just about your football ability when you come to a big club, it’s about what going on inside there [this head]. Has he got the mental capacity to take it on? It’s big pressure, can he deal with that on a week-to-week basis?
‘The expectations of a big-money signing coming in to come and create goals is a huge responsibility. Itt’s more than just football, this is about what’s in there [his head] to.’
