Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has named former Leeds United winger Raphinha as the player he would always like to have on his side from those he has played with. The two spent around one year together in Portugal at Sporting Club de Portugal and built a healthy relationship with one another both on and off the pitch.
Raphinha has been on the move a few times in recent seasons, with the Brazilian having had four clubs in the last four-and-a-half years. As aforementioned, Raphinha left Sporting after just one season for French side Rennes, before doing the same 12 months later as he made the switch to Leeds.
It was at Elland Road that Raphinha really made a name for himself on the big stage as he enjoyed two excellent seasons in West Yorkshire, coming up against his former teammate Fernandes on three occasions in battles between Leeds and Man United. After proving himself in the Premier League, several big clubs were keen on landing his signature in the summer but it was his dream club Barcelona who won the race, and the two are set to go head-to-head again in the Europa League.
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Chelsea and Arsenal were among the Premier League sides who made offers for Raphinha, but Fernandes' Man United side did not. It is unlikely that Leeds would've ever considered selling him to Old Trafford anyway, but that has not stopped Fernandes from stating how much he would love to play alongside him again.
He 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.”
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