Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has revealed that he would love to play with former Leeds player Raphinha again.
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The Red Devils have been linked with PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo and other forwards ahead of the January transfer window, but unfortunately for Fernandes it looks unlikely that Raphinha will be moving to United any time soon.
Raphinha swapped Leeds for Barcelona in the summer window after a superb season that saw him contribute 11 goals and three assists in 35 Premier League games.
He has been in and out of the Barcelona team under Xavi with the Brazilian star grabbing two goals and two assists in 13 matches, with seven of those coming off the bench.
But Raphinha played some part in all five of Brazil’s games at the World Cup and Fernandes would like to link up with his former Sporting Libson team-mate again one day.
When asked which player he has played with he would always want on his team, Fernandes told The Athletic: “So many. Raphinha, who is now at Barcelona, would be one.
“The chemistry between me and him was really good. I didn’t play with him for a long time at Sporting, but I felt he was a team-mate who would give everything for me.”
Fernandes was praised by Burnley head coach Vincent Kompany after their 2-0 Carabao Cup win over the Championship leaders and Manchester United boss Ten Hag has also been complimentery.
“Bruno is playing really well this season,” Ten Hag said. “In that fact, he can produce more goals and assists but I think he is often in the line of the goal and he is playing I think a massive role in a lot of moments of football for us, in build-up and in creativity and attacking, movement but also transition, both sides.
“In defensive transition, he is magnificent, he is doing a really good job so I am really happy with his performance.”
On Fernandes, Ten Hag added: “[Leadership] is also one of the things; he is really an example with the way he transfers the play for us, how he motivates those around him, he is the example with the energy he gives to the team.
“That is really good and I’m happy with his performances and I know his goals and assists will come.”
