How Bruno Fernandes Fulfilled Juan Mata’s Prediction After Ander Herrera’s Exit

Juan Mata, a former Manchester United star, had high hopes for Bruno Fernandes when he joined the club from Sporting Lisbon in 2020. He saw him as the perfect replacement for his close friend Ander Herrera, who left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.

Mata and Herrera had a strong bond on and off the pitch, sharing a similar football vision and passion. Mata praised Herrera’s intelligence and likened him to Fernandes in a fan Q&A in April 2020.

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Fernandes quickly proved Mata right, becoming a key player and leader for United. He won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award twice and was named club captain in July 2021.

Mata reiterated his admiration for Fernandes in May 2022, saying they both ‘know everything’ about football. He joked that Fernandes was ‘too heavy’ and ‘football sick’.

Mata left United in September 2022 for Galatasaray, where he won the Super Lig title. He then joined Vissel Kobe in Japan and helped them win their first J1 League title. He left the club earlier this month and thanked his teammates, fans and staff on Instagram.

He said he had an ‘incredibly interesting experience’ and was ‘really happy’ to be part of their history. He wished them all the best and said he was eager to continue playing football and winning trophies elsewhere. He ended his message with ‘Gracias y VAMOS @visselkobe!’