Man United Star Confirms He Was Sad When Rice Joined Arsenal

Bruno Fernandes said he had hoped Declan Rice would join Manchester United before the England midfielder signed for Arsenal from West Ham.

Rice moved to the Gunners for a club‑record £105 million in 2023 and has become a key player for Mikel Arteta as Arsenal chase their first league title since 2004. The current season has seen Rice among the league’s best performers as Arsenal close in on the championship.

Fernandes, who has scored eight goals and is one assist shy of Thierry Henry’s and Kevin De Bruyne’s record of 20 assists in a single Premier League season, won the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year award. He captured 45 % of the vote from the FWA’s 900‑plus members, edging out Rice by 28 votes.

“I admire him a lot,” Fernandes told JoelBeyaTV (via Sky Sports) after receiving the FWA honour. Asked about the midfielder he trained with in Portugal during the summer of 2023 at an Apex Football Performance camp, he added:

“First of all, as a person, because I’ve known him from the Algarve when we were training together and everything.”

“Obviously, I knew him already from West Ham and we all knew the qualities he had. I’ve always thought that Rice was a player to play for Manchester United, and I was really sad when he chose to go to Arsenal.”

“I didn’t know if there was the opportunity or the chance for him to come to Manchester United, but I always thought that he would be a perfect fit for our club. Not just for the players, but as I said before, for the person he is, for the professional.”

“He showed me that he is and for his personality. And I think what he’s been doing this season is great.”

James Agberebi

James is a sport content creator and also does analysis on sports. Also, James has covered international matches involving both Nigeria’s men and women national teams. Facebook : James Agberebi