Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker believes Bruno Fernandes could blossom into a right-sided winger, similarly to Reds icon David Beckham.
Fernandes, who has scored three goals and grabbed three assists for United so far this season, played predominantly as a right-winger for Portugal up until their World Cup exit at the hands of Morocco last Saturday at the quarter-final stage. Although it is not his natural role, the 28-year-old most certainly left his calling card, scoring two goals and grabbing three assists in four appearances in Qatar.
Fernandes was instrumental in Portugal's group stage wins over both Ghana and Uruguay, registering two assists against the former and two goals against the latter. As those wins secured their place in the last-16, he was rested for the concluding group game against South Korea.
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He returned to the starting line-up for the thumping 6-1 win over Switzerland in the first knockout round and registered an assist, again from the right-wing. But although he impressed in the role, he is unlikely to be ever tasked with playing in that position for United, given his importance in the attacking-midfield position and the Reds' wide options.
Nevertheless, Parker, who played for United between 1991 and 1996, believes Fernandes could find it easier to find space out wide than he does in the middle, pointing to how a lack of genuine speed, like Beckham, could tempt him to convert into a winger.
"Bruno Fernandes played amazingly for Portugal during the World Cup and he seems to like that right hand side," Parker told MyBettingSites. "I want to compare him to David Beckham.
"Beckham played as a winger as well but he was free to move wherever we wanted. He didn't have the pace to beat people and that's the same thing with Fernandes.
"But it's easier to find space on the wing and I think that Fernandes could do really well with playing that Beckham-role."
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