Bruno Fernandes has admitted that he was "sad" his proposed move to Tottenham Hotspur fell through last year, but says it proved a blessing in disguise as he got to join Manchester United instead.
The Portugal international agreed personal terms with Tottenham in the 2019 summer transfer window, only for the North London outfit to pull the plug on a deal as they could not agree a fee with Sporting Lisbon.
United belatedly handed over £68m to sign Fernandes from the Primeira Liga side five months later, however, and he has gone on to be a huge success at Old Trafford.
Opening up on the failed move to Spurs, Fernandes told the official Manchester United podcast: "I was close to Tottenham. In the summer I was closer to Tottenham than Manchester.
"Sporting thought at that moment the proposal was not good enough, they thought they deserved more for a player like me. They wanted more money. I was not mad, I was sad.
"I thought dream of coming to the Premier League was not happening. At the time, the dream to come to the Premier League, to a club like Tottenham was an amazing proposal.
"But everything has a purpose. Maybe at that time, I didn't go to Tottenham because something special was coming. Waiting worked better because I got to put two dreams together – to play in the Premier League and for Manchester United."
Fernandes has had a hand in 15 Premier League goals in his 10 away matches since joining - 10 goals and five assists - which is the most goal involvements a player has had in their first 10 games on the road in the competition.
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