Thomas Tuchel reveals he tried to sign Bruno Fernandes for PSG as he hails ‘outstanding’ Manchester United midfielder as among best in the world

Thomas Tuchel has hailed Bruno Fernandes for the ‘unbelievable’ impact he has had on Manchester United – and revealed how he tried to sign him for Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea come up against Fernandes on Sunday as they host Manchester United in a huge Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.

Fernandes has established himself as one of the outstanding talents in the game since moving to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.

The Portuguese playmaker has scored 34 goals in 60 games for United and is among the frontrunners to be crowned Premier League Player of the Year.

It could have all been so different had Tuchel got his way, with the now Chelsea boss disclosing that he had fought hard to take Fernandes to Paris.

The German said: “During my first year in Paris, not sure if it was the first transfer period or second or third, I am not sure. It was just when we arrived in the summer.

“I got aware of him more in detail because of my sporting director that knew him very well, so we watched more and more games about him and followed him and tried to be in touch with him to make it happen.

“Obviously he decided and I was never personally in touch with him but we tried and he went another way. Bad for us that we have to play against him.”

Tuchel was made aware of Fernandes’ talents by ex-PSG sporting director Antero Henrique, and he became determined to sign him after watching extensive footage.

“With my first sporting director in Paris, Antero Henrique, he knew (Fernandes) very well and we fought hard to have a connection to him and to bring him to our team,” Tuchel explained.

“He was a big personality for Sporting and an effective goalscorer and an effective guy to make the other players around more dangerous.

“The impact he has had since he arrived at Manchester United is indescribable and unbelievable.

“To come from Portugal, from a competitive team, a big club but not from the strongest league and step in a year to one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and the strongest league in Europe and to have this kind of impact, I have nothing but the biggest respect for this guy. It is outstanding.

“He is one of the best midfielders in the world, attacking midfielders, and he has a huge, huge impact and to have this as a single person in football, you must be absolutely top level because this is almost impossible.”