Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has admitted he was disappointed when the club failed to sign Declan Rice, stating that the Arsenal star would have been a perfect fit at Old Trafford.
Speaking on JoelBeyaTV's YouTube channel, the Portuguese international revealed he has been in contact with Rice since meeting him three years ago in Portugal. Fernandes praised Rice's performances this season and highlighted the different responsibilities that come with his midfield role.
Fernandes Hails Rice
Bruno Fernandes, captain of Manchester United, believes that Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice's football philosophy ideally suits Old Trafford. He said: "Obviously, I knew him already from West Ham and we all knew the qualities he had and I have always said that I thought Rice was a player to play for Man United."
Fernandes added: "I was really sad when he chose to go to Arsenal, I don't know if there was the opportunity or the chance to come to Manchester United, but I always thought that he would be the perfect fit for our club. Not just for the player he is but for the person he is, for the professional, he showed me that he is in for his personality and I think what he has been doing this season is a different position, it is a different style of play."
Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham in 2023 for £105 million, despite interest from several Premier League clubs including Manchester United. Since then, he has developed into one of Arsenal's most influential players under Mikel Arteta, delivering standout performances such as his memorable free-kick goal against Real Madrid in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal. The England international has also played a crucial role in Arsenal's pursuit of a historic double, with the Gunners closing in on their first Premier League title since 2004 and their first-ever Champions League title.
Fan Reactions
Manchester United fans reacted to Fernandes' comments on social media. User @PaSheikhnaS said: "This is actually huge. I think at some point even Rice saw himself as United player and he always spoke nice about United but for some reason we didn’t have the balls to get into a difficult negotiation with West Ham so we went with the easy option of Mason Mount."
@TendoKevin added: "One interesting thing about Carrick is that he was once at the club and things burnt him, he must have learnt a lot of lessons and that would be his greatest competitive advantage."
@justlakamora wrote: "That’s his boy! I think they have couple of personal training sessions together."
Morgan Tips Rice for Ballon d'Or
British broadcaster and passionate Arsenal fan Piers Morgan has backed Declan Rice to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or award. Rice has arguably been Arsenal’s best player this season, pushing the Gunners to the verge of winning the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
