Manchester United scouts advised against signing Bruno Fernandes for one simple reason

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Manchester United scouts reportedly convinced the club hierarchy not to make a move for Sporting CP midfielder this summer. 

Bruno Fernandes

The Portugal international was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford before the Premier League transfer window closed on 8 August.

According to the Mail Online, Red Devils scouts expressed concerns over the player’s wastefulness in possession.

They reported back that they didn’t believe he would suit Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s style.

Fernandes, who contributed 20 goals and 13 assists in the Portuguese top flight last term, finished 2018/19 with a pass completion rate of 75.1 per cent.

That wasn’t considered high enough to impress United representatives, with comparable risk-taking midfielders like Paul Pogba and Kevin de Bruyne boasting rates of 82.8 and 82 per cent respectively.

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Alasdair Mackenzie

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.