![\"Bruno](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Screenshot-2026-05-15-at-081724.png\")
<\/p>\nManchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has admitted one Arsenal player in particular would have been an ideal fit for the Reds, had he chosen to join them instead<\/p>\n
08:21, 15 May 2026Updated 09:55, 15 May 2026<\/p>\n
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Bruno Fernandes would have liked to play alongside Declan Rice<\/p>\n
Bruno Fernandes admitted feeling gutted when Declan Rice<\/a> joined Arsenal, claiming he sees him as the perfect fit for Manchester United<\/a>. The former West Ham captain was heavily linked with Old Trafford<\/a> when the club were in the market for a midfielder amid the possibility of Paul Pogba leaving in 2021.<\/p>\n Rice had been on United’s wishlist for some time and The Manchester Evening News reported <\/strong>the midfielder had asked United players about the club<\/a>. Jesse Lingard was a part of the England squad and it is understood that Rice spoke with Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw about United.<\/p>\n Then\u2011manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer later admitted there had been discussions about signing Rice, a player he ‘really liked.’ In the end, a deal never materialised and United spent big on Raphael Varane<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get MEN Premium now for just \u00a31 HERE<\/a> \u2013 or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE<\/a>. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE<\/a> and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Two years later, Rice completed his switch to Arsenal for an initial \u00a3100m, rising by a further \u00a35m in add\u2011ons, making him the most expensive English player of 2023.<\/p>\n And Fernandes admitted he wished the England midfielder had chosen Old Trafford instead. During an interview with Joel Beya, he said<\/a>: “I’ve always said, Rice was a player to play for Man United, I was really sad when he chose to go Arsenal.<\/p>\n “I always thought he would be a perfect fit for our club.”<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Solskjaer expressed strong admiration for Rice even years after leaving the club. During an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast<\/a>, the Norwegian said: “Yeah, [there was interest] I really, really like him as a player.<\/p>\n “We discussed him a few times and I think we would have done well with him in midfield. I think his legs, covering the pitch. I think he improved a lot on his playmaking as well.”<\/p>\n Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n The interest in Rice came just a year after United signed Fernandes from Sporting CP for \u00a347m – and the pair would have formed a dream midfield partnership. Rice is widely regarded as one of Europe’s premium midfielders capable of improving any side on the continent.<\/a><\/p>\n Although they don’t share a dressing room, both players have a strong mutual respect and trained together three years ago during a summer camp in Portugal.<\/p>\n Fernandes, who at the time delayed his return to Carrington after Portugal’s Euro 2024 commitments<\/a>, trained alongside Rice as part of a group that also included Joao Cancelo and James Maddison at the Campus facility in the Algarve.<\/p>\n Footage from the session showed Rice hugging Fernandes after the Portuguese midfielder clipped the post with a first\u2011time volley during shooting practice. Fernandes later reposted a picture of the pair from the session<\/a>, adding a handshake emoji and writing: “Was a pleasure to work with you.”<\/p>\n Fernandes and Rice have a clear mutual respect for one another<\/p>\n This season, Fernandes collected the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award <\/a>ahead of the Arsenal star. However, the Portuguese will now go head\u2011to\u2011head with Rice for the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Season award.<\/p>\n Arsenal have three names on the list in Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes and David Raya. Manchester City<\/a> pair Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland also feature, with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs\u2011White and Brentford hitman Igor Thiago completing the line-up.<\/p>\n Fernandes has claimed 21 assists (in all competitions) and eight goals in 32 Premier League<\/a> games this season, and is just one short of equalling the record held jointly by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry of 20 assists in a single Premier League season.<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Declan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_GettyImages-2257657329.jpg\")
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