Future Ambitions and Club Stability

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And with a one hundred and twenty night trial, you've got four months to prove it to yourself. You can get twenty seven percent off at helixleep. com slash diary. That's helixleep d. com slash diary In the football where you go through a lot ups and downs and a lot of difficult moments. And Let's say the ones that suffered most my family They u they see your goodood moments, your bad moment. Your good side, your bad side also But they always stand by you Your time at Manchester Unite has been a bit of a roller coaster like this. And so on that day, when you get a big offer to leave Manchester United for a contract that was worth reportedly two hundred million Why didn't you go Manchester United's captain, Bruno Fernandez, has arguably become their greatest player in the post Ferguson era. There isn't a single player in the Premier League who has more assists since his arrival. He's won more club player of the yearar Awards than Ronaldo, and only five players have scored more than his seventy league als So I'm at the Manchester United Training Ground to ask him the questions the footballing world wants to know, including Recently, Roy Keane criticized your mentality based on a quote, he claimed you said How do you respond to that? He kept criticizing me, killing me, saying that I'm not good enough, that I'm not a good captive, that I'm not a good player for the club. It's okay. I don't mind. What I don't like is when people lie about things. I even asked Pa his number to have a word with him. Did you speak to him I've got a favor to ask before this episode begins. The algorithm, if you follow a show, will deliver you the best episodes from that show very prominently in your feed. So when we have our best episodes on this show The most shared episodes, the most rated episodes, I would love you to know. And the simple way for you to know that is to hit that follow button. but also it's the simple, easy, free thing that you can do to help us make the show better. And I would be hugely grateful if you could take a minute on the app you listing to this on right now and hit that follow button. Thank you so, so so much. To understand somebody, I always think you have to start with where they started and the early context that they grew up in. and we were just talking before we started recording about Porto I'm on a journey to understand why you are the way that you are because you're such anomaly on the pitch and your career, when I track the journey of where you've come from and how you continually were promoted and pushed forward at a very young age, it's clear to me that your early context, your early upbringing and whatever it was that was present at that age has shaped you in some very, very important way What is the sort of earliest thing I need to understand about where you came from and that environment For me it' all about family. It's about taking care of other people. and I think to succeed not just in sports but in life you need to be very careful of your surroundings. So I think the values of my family, the values of my parents were what make me the person and the player I am today The older I've got, I'm thirty, so I think I'm two years older than you, the more I've realized actually with time, what I learnted from my parents. and like the values that my dad in particular gave me. He never for a lot of other things, it's not something he ever said to me. It's like modeling what he did. So seeing how he behaved, Yeah, what's that for you? It's kind of the same, you know, like my father was never a person show his emotions too much or tell you what to do or how to do it you would just do it. and you would understand by his behavior, by the way those things that that was his way of showing us how he has to be doing. was never a person of like uugging, kissing and stuff. He got now into that even I'm out of games and stuff. I see like I always get his hug, I always get his kiss and this is something that I as a kid I knew how much he loved me, but in this small aspect, was always my mom giving this kind of love. He was more in the way of he was showing how things have to be done, how much you have to sacrifice yourself to certain things My dad was very strong with me in terms of like games. Imagine I could come out of a game scoring two, three goals or whatsoever and my parents My dad in this case will always pick up the bad moments I had in games to make me understand That wasn't that wasn't That was good I wasn't great 's always margin to improvements, you know it's always small things. And I think I've learned such from such a young age to deal with criticism. that I'm now in probably in one of the biggest clubs in terms of like carrying criticism and attention. That doesn't hurt me. L I don't like it. Obviously no one likes to get criticized but it doesn't hurt me. It doesn't change the way I behave, It doesnt doesn't change the way I want to do things from the other side, it makes me understand I still things to improve And I listen to that and I look at my game and I see if he's needed of changing or improvement in my game. And my dad was always very strong in that with me and I see nowadays the parents, you know My daden never wanted me to be a footballer. He wanted me to become person, a better player or a better student. Everything I wanted to do, he just wanted me to do it at like one hundred percent. You want to do this, you have to do the best you can You can't just be happy with you go to a test and let's say in Portugal was from zero to hundred percent And you have ninety eight and you willll be the most happiest person who will know. You can be happy because that result is amazing But you left two percent then that you still can improve. So you're always always showing me that Even if it wass just a small thing or a small detail You still have something more to do. you still have something more that you can improve or become better. And that's something that has stuck with me not just in football, but in life. I don't like to do things fifty percent sixty seven to eighty. Whenever I'm included in something, want I want to go full. I want to learn as much as I can. I want to be best version I can in that aspect, whatever it is I mean, it's really interesting because I wonder to myself how I think you started playing football at five years old Yeah f And were you good from five years old.ere you different from your peers at a young age? In such a young age, I never think about being a footballer. I just wanted to play football for life. I'm just happy playing football. I just want to have spaing my feet every time all time. And you joined FC Infesta Yeah, that was my first club. At Fog years old, I mean, I've got some fr fs of viewers as a young man here. Not so many photos here. You must be roughly around that age then. And remarkably, I read that after one training session they moved you into the older group played with people two years older than you when you were F five years old Yeah, I was five playing with a seven years old. Why did they move you into a different group I went for the first session and was a foood saw session. ive a s side, but like an indoor thing. And after that first session, they told me that like now you need to get on the grass And then I think it comes just You know, I looked at the other players and at the other people that were training with me and I didn't want to be better than them. I just wanted to like Getting at them was the same at getting at my brother that was five years old. for me was no different to beat him up, I will beat him up, you know, like one view one, I'm going to go past him I have to tackle. I'm going to tackle him. He's going to tackle me stronger It doesn'tatter. I tackle him again. And I had no fear. and I think that was the thing that' make me become better and better because I was never The best L teechnical ability. Yes, I was good. was the best. No, spepeed. Was I quick? Yeah, I was quite the quick. was the quickest? No. I was the strongest. No. I was the tallest. no. but I had no fear of anything of that. I had to spein with someone that was kicking me, I'm going to spein with him and I might not beat him, but I'm going to get close to that. I actually read that you were so aggressive that referee sometimes asked your coach at Infestor Sergio to sub you off otherwise they'd have to send you off Yeah. I mean, that kind of correlates with what you were saying there about fear Yeah. you were aggressive. I was like that's what I mean. Like I had no fear, you know, like I wouldn't look at faces or sizes whatsoever and think like, o bigger than me, you know, like it's gonna it's going to be stronger than me also I' get into any ball in any moment in the game with no fear at all. This is probably the best times in my career between Inesta and Buo Vista because this one is Infesta, this one is at Bovista when I' just I stayed probably a year at Infesta and Buovista got me straight away And you moved quickly up and up and up and up. And that was one of the remarkable things I noticed when I looked at you starting playing at five years old, getting promoted to an older team. and then quickly almost in all the clubs, you know I'm looking at when you were seventeen years old and you left Portugal and moved to Italy to join Navara Yeah And after three months there, you were promoted to the first team. U and but then you very quickly joined Youdonasive Yes And at Uunneasia you met a guy called Francesco. I can't pronounce his surn name, but Gudolini? Gudolini He was really, really formative in your career, wasn't he? you were eighteen, eighteen years years old? Yeah. Why was he such an important part of your career. what did he teach you or give you? youd Dazy He was the manager that probably gave me the bases and the foundation to feless and express myself, you know, like to get my head out of so many things that were going on and as a young kid that is just made step into the area And he's like Oh, I need to Now is the moment I need to show myself. but he was like You don't. You showed me that you have the qualities when you were in second division in Italy That's why we boughtght you And to be honest, I was onn the edge of coming to Oatford on loan. Watford. Yeah, because it's the same owners. We're getting at the edge of the transfer window. They just boped me and obviously they had a big squad with a lot of players and they were like We're going to send you to Oatford. You're you're going to be there playing for them And I was like what I ever done, like I was't I wasn't good enough. And then in the same moment they called me to go to the autal pack my stuff because it was like last days this pack my stuff. I was with my girlfriend wife now. and She was like Don't worry. we can we going go anywhere else and you gonna you're going to succeed. And I said, but why can I make it here? Like what was that I did wrong that the manager is like not looking at me the same is looking to other players and my head was like Have I done something wrong? I have not like showed my full potential? Have I not shown that I'm good enough to be in this team And I don't know why in the middle of all this thought, the sporting director called me again and says, Bruno, you can't go anymore. The manager wants you to stay He says, You love dude He loves your attitude. You want you to learn from him. You want you to understand how he wants to play and everything. He says you might not play much this season, but he's pretty sure that you are the type of player that will succeed at this club And then we had many conversations. And I think When when you want to managers for young players very quick, we'll play and we'll think like o I'm the guy now is going to and make you understand Stay calm I got you but he's still not there. And he was so good for me. It was like a the fature, you know, like but not just for me. If you speak with every player that was there at that time, they knew they were important for him because he always showed that and that's why we made me So much more complete in terms of understanding the moments and the process that managers have to go through. their heads and what they think about players that is better or whatsoever that you don't understand. Whenever a manager puts you on a bench, you just doesn't like me is doing this because he makes he wants to make another one play wh but The way did it with me and all the players that were around me at that time We were so happy that the environment was very, very good As a young man when you're this age, you're eighteen years old, what are your dreams? And if I'd asked you at the time, what does your future look like? what would you have said to me As soon I became a professional player I was like, I want to be on the top clips. I want to play for for the big clubs. I want to be in the Champions League. I want to play for trophies. I want to become the players I'm looking at. I want to become like them. Did you think you could Al, I've never and never doubt And at twenty two, you get a call and you return to Portugal and sign a five year deal with sporting in a deal worth reportedly eight point five million do. That next season you scored twenty goals and added thirteen assists, which was unard unheard of for a player in your position. And what I read as well is that C them ' interested in you at that time And it was at one point highly likely that you were going to end up moving to Tottenham. I'm very glad you didn't as a man United fan. But tell me about that. So Tottenham call you Yeah. I spoke with Totnham and we were very close to get an agreement done then in the last two days or one day of market, the sporting just said, we're not going to sell him. We're going to keep him because we need him And you wanted to go tootland Yes, because I wanted to play in Premier League. Why Because for me, it's the best leag in the world. It's the most competitive one. It's the one that I think when you grow up you dream to play for in Stadiums clubs, topop players Obviously, I was I was lucky enough that my dream club to play in England was M United and obviously them at the time was the option I had and I was very, very happy to join them because they showed me process that they were going through The manager that was there at the time. they also really wanted me, all the new things, new facilities and everything. So I was very happy with the with everything that I could see going forward, but it didn't happen and for bigger reasons, I guess, then in January I I got the call But I was hoping for for two three years already. Tell me about that call. because I know Manchester United has been, you know in your eye for a long time. I mean I know you grew up watching people like Christiana Ronaldo play for this club and I think when he I think when he first played for Portugal, you were a young guy, you was like eight or ten years old or something. And he had been a great star of Manchester United But but I think generally people of our age group, We grew up in the heyday of Manchester United, the Alex Ferguson era as well. So why Manchester United? and can you zoom me in? if I'm a fly on the wall when you get that phone call? from your agent, I guess. that Manchester United are interest. I can see this smell on your face, I I was let's say, I was in my wardrobe. I was krying getting ready to go to bed. We just had my wife was just bringing kids my daughter. at that time I only had my daughter Tibet And I get a call from my agent. I knew things were going on and everything, but After what happened with Tottennam, I didn't want to put my focus on transfer windows. and I never did it in every step of my career that I've changed club I always set to my agent. Whenever he's like ninety five percent that the club really wants me and is ready to make an offer tellell me and then I decide if it's like the right moment and I want to go Part of that is I'm like just keeping apart. K me apart. I don't want to know it. I don't want like to lose the focus of what I'm doing to something that I can't control And after the Totam thing, I was like, even more because obviously I was basically done and then all of a sudden last day sporting just says like, guys o But me say like, we're not going to make it. So He called me and said, Brunoso, he told me to not speak to you until we had something Concrete, concrete That's just so you know They also have agreement already, everything So just on your side now to say Yes or no. And I was like like, yes or no to what? And he said, comeome on, you've seen the news. I said I just calls me gas and Mig out The news are Every day different E day they're going to put a nucleub that is interested in me. So I'm not very focused on that. He said, okay Many night is coming for you. I know I know this is like why you want So just so you know this is the one that you've been waiting for. So is on you now to make a decision. And then for like twenty seconds, I didn't say anything. I was crying, but I didn't want to talk because you know, like your voice starts going a little bit y and then all of a sudden my My wife gets into the worldrobe and she says I'm still on the call and she goes like, why are you crying? And like I on the phone say, A you crying? I was like turnurned that off and I it was like M' just call me and then in the moment I'm trying to explain to my wife what's going on, he's calling me like repetitively like I need an answer And I was like, and my wife was like Why are you crying? so like this is like what you have dreamed for. Like this is the moment you're waiting for And I was like, o I don't know it it's just too much Like I've never expected after everything that Ab and with Tottenham I would have got the chance to come to the Premier League again and having the chance to come the Premier League with M United is it's like percent of the dream complete. so Obviously then like I just call him back and I said like I don't even want to know anything else. justust tell them I'm going Obviously I was very good at sporting and I was very there because I really enjoyed my time at Sport because was when I became the best version of myself as a player where I improved so much in that two years and a half, but then was like dream of playing for the Premier League and I think from every sporting fund, they really understood that was ready for me to go and do the next step And when you join me, I mean, here's the famous photo Have you signing with Manchester United It's funny the smile that you still have on your face when you look at this. Yeah,s because I think when you look back as I said, She iss day your dream comes true. So is is probably prorofessional wise I think I put this one and sporting together because of the importance that supporting Ed in my career obviously this This was the cherry on top of the cake because This is where I wanted to be. And you joined the club at a time when the club was in a bit of turmoil struggling Nar sir Alex Ferguson has left We've cycled through a bunch of managers and we've got Ollig Gona Sosar as the manager. at that point. I think the club was seventh in the Premier League when you joined and it was going through a time of turbulence. You knew that Manchester Unite wasn't the most stable club in the world. but you chose to come here anyway And based on your record of sporting, you'd have had a lot of other opportunities to join a club that was more stable That was, you know, and it's interesting because clubs can have a big impact on a player's future. can have a big impact on a club, but it also goes the other way. And as someone that runs businesses, you know the environment you join has a huge impact on everyone's behavior. no irrespective of how hard you try. You chose to join a club that was at the time unstable Look, the game I look before I came here was, I think Burntley United Berley. United losers at home two one I don't remember exactly, but I know I know they've lost that cameame and it was just like days before I came And I was like, I still think there's a lot of potential in that team of having potential on that team, I'm joining one of the biggest clubs in the world. and I know that clubs go through periods where Things don't go the way they want Sometimes it's not just because they're not great, it's just because other teams are being better than them. And that's fine because in football, you're not going to win it all the time But the thing you can do is like you can bring yourour own values, your own experience, your own qualities I trying to help everyone else around you to become better, to become team you want to see And I think at that time, previous off and we had the COVID time and all the stuff, But that period From there to the end of the season, the team was unbelievable. and the season after we got second place And because we struggled in certain moments of keeping up to to the standandard Cff City that had a very good end of season. But for me was like I wasn't like I'll fix that. I was like I'm gonna be the theagic magic powder that's going to solve all the problems, but I really knew that this club had something special and for me to join it was was like I can be part of something that is going to become great again. And I still believe that. And obviously, it can take time. It's taking more time than I thought. Yes, of course But at that time, I had too many dreams in my head and they still are here And still a lot of things that I want to achieve This smile and this guy that came here in twenty twenty is is still the same guy that wants to win and succeed at this club? I'm wondering, know because there's been so much said about the environment at Manchester United over the years. I know a little bit about the environment when Sir Alex Ferguson was here because I interviewed a lot of his players and having been to Carrington before and actually going to the grounds and actually sitting in the hospitality lounge and waitresses coming over to me and talking about when Sir Alex Ferguson was here. and how he knew everyone's name. and then how it changed. It was really interesting to me to get a lot of this feedback because It highlighted how Small things in culture can have a big impact right down to the way players play. And there's always this story that Gary Neville told me about with Wendy and her charity balls. He told me a story of the players walking past Wendy who got the charity balls signed for a local charity. And one day a couple of them didn't sign it. And Sir Alex Fergon came downstairs and he quote, fucking killed us And it's a strange thing to do, like to care that much about a small detailing culture. But over time, Gary told me he understands why Sir Alex Fergon cared so much. So my question to you is really about the cultural evolution at this club And what the fans are desperate to know about like how it's changed and how it feels different from the time you arrived in twenty eighteen Up until today I've brought in my behavior, the way I've been raised and all these things. And I think every different player has brought different things to the club I think One of the things that has to be always there is the respect for people. And I think that says for me is a non negotiable thing like ifenic player comes to this club and he doesn't respect the physios, the stewards, the people that are in all the desk we have here, the people that work for us in the restaurant, the chefs and all these people that are around us Taking care of us even if you don't see it or if you don't think it or whatever it is For me it is a non negotiable thing that the respect has to be always there and more than respect the care you need to care about them because If you have a good foundation, a good base of respect and care in your club, it's going to get better. The environment gets better Everything is more positive. because I think and this is probably the way I've been raised I treat everyone in the same way. I don't treat the players in a way that I don't treat the an lady or the people that are in the front desk or the people that the stewardarts at the entrance. you know, if I say good morning to these ones, I say good morning to these ones. I don't change that. If I give unshake to these ones, I give unshake to this one. If I greet them as I'm greeting my teammates They will feel part of it, they will feel involved. They will feel as important as them E knowing that The role of clim is completely different of the other ones because The role of a CEO is one thing But if the cleaner doesn't clean everything nice and leaves everything prepared and well done and everything, you will notice that something is wrong. You will notice that this is not the place where you want to work for. You notice that you don't want to be the CEO of a company that as thush everywhere. Yeah. And so Why wouldn't you greet the person that takes care of you, takes care of your place to look so good and to make an impact when people come in from the outside? It reminds me of something, actually Johnny Ive said. So Johnny Ive is the famous Apple designer that designed all the Apple products that we know and love. And he said it's very hard to feel care But everyone can feel when someone didn't care. You go to a restaurant and they didn't care smallm things. He goes it's like he said ''t care is just this thing in the background, this ambient feeling you have when you arrive somewhere. But you can't you can't like point out exactly what it is, but you can feel it That's the thing. I think it's more that you feel it but you don't see it. And I think Touching this point I I was talking about cleaners. My mom was a She was cleaning houses for work So I never wanted the people that were cleaning the house to treat my mom. badley or let's say downowngrade the work she's doing for them Because for example, now I have a person that works in my house I don't allow my kids to talk balit her. I don't allow my kids to say Grab that to put it in place And I said it to her in the first day she came to work and I said If something is not in the right place, Obviously, I want you to clean. I want you to put things in place. I want all of this But I don't want my kids to tell you arrange that or put this in place. No they want something They can hk you First of all, they need to be respectful. If they can't make it, they have to ask you but in the respect way. But if it's something that they can make You have to make them make it. Not like Oh, you do it. No, just explain them how to do it. showh them the way so they learn with it And this probably The way I behave with the people that work with me, it comes a lot because of my background of not li it to see my mom 'causeuse I was not in the houses, obviously. I don't know if they treated well or not. My mom never said to me that any of the people that she worked for were b b to her or tet her in a bad way. So I really think that made me understand that because I don't want that for my mom I won't make that to other people I've been a M United fan since was a kid. So like my siblings were born in Manchester, I was saying to you before I was born in Boswan or in Africa. But because I've got two older brothers who are Man United fans, I very quickly became a Manchester United fan. I remember like three four years old And then as soon as I could when I was eighteen, I moved up from the Southwest to Manchester eighteen years old and I lived here and went to my first Manchester United Games. I've seen the club go on this incredible journey from you know, Sir Alex Ferguson Zera to this sort of period of transition to where we are now. And it's my observation, my honest observation that after in the post Fergy era Cub made some bad decisions as it relates to recruitment and culture People often talk about Edwards, not I'm not going to trans stitch you up anyhere'll get to talk about anything particularly I'm just expressing my opinion. They talk about Edwards strategy towards signing players and it being a bit flippant And then you look at the sort of group of lads that we had. And just as a United fan watching on the pitch. I felt the culture was a bit confused becausecause it didn't seem like it seems now, where it seems like there's this really strong central agreement around the values It felt a bit I don't know, a bit like weird sign players because they were famous or big, but not because they fit. And I feel when I look at the club now I go, oh, these guys kind of fit. And whoever's doing recruiting is thinking about character. It feels to me like there's been this process over the last couple of years of getting rid of the wrong character profiles. And I think how Amarim really spoke to this He really talked about getting rid of the players that didn't have the right character profile. Just add one more line to this. I've spoken to a lot of players at the club in past and present and they expressed the same to me as well, that there was an issue with sort of character profile that has now been solved for And I think the main mistake that the club has done through the years is that we've changed Mage it through manager They were very different. And that's already a bud sign of recruitment because then you bring in players that fit that manager. But the next one you brought plays a completely different way. three or four or five that you bought don't fit this one anymore then you have to buy another four or five. And then constantly change of strategy in the club or in the way we wanted to play whatsoever was not was not the best because then obviously It becomes that playlers don't suit anymore. The system iss not even more the character than it comes up, but it's more the system And obviously, we can talk about character that players there were. certainly as they were not perfect fit for the club, but you never know it until you bring it to the club. I think sometimes you can see it and I think is there players that I think the club by the behavior they have on the pitach or the behavior they have on social media, whatsoever, you can see if they will be a fit for the club or not. And I think The main thing for the club, as you said there You need to bring good characters because that will be more important to build something that good quality is because good qualities they all They will leftgh You don't bring a play to many United that doesn't have qualities But if you can add the qualities to the character That's a win win because The qualities will be moments that the quality won't be good as good as you want because players go through periods that sometimes they play very good, sometimes they play very bad remains the same. And that's the character you want where they are on a low to be the right character to push himself to be on a high or at the same time when they are on the low, to be the right character to push the other ones to be at the top level. And I think that's the main thing that the club has to do in terms of recruitment and everything is bringing people, first of all that want to be a Men United to play for Men United T be M United just because it's a big club they want to be here because This is the club they think and they really understand that they want to succeed with these club. they want to bring this club back to the days we are used to see Mited. I know it's being twelve, thirteen years. I know, but we want that as short as possible to become that club that won twenty Premier League titles and is joined the most in the Premier League. So character in a football club is more important than the quality because the quality, you're always going to get it and you can improve it. This is what I heard from Patrice Ere. I remember him telling me that he met Ser Alex Ferguson in an airport, I think in France And so Alex Fergson sat him down and said, Are you willing to die for Manchester United And he said, yes. And so he shook his hand. He said, weelcome to Manchester United And that's a different way of recruiting. He's not testing if he can kick a ball well. he's testing if he's got the heart mentality D I think Fergie and previous sort of cohorts of Manchester had really cared about. I think Sir Alex Obviously, he's done mistakes in recruitment too because obviously not every player was great. but He always bringings players in any time and any moment. they would fit the club. And that's the main thing I think in terms of recruitment that this is like something that is not for me to get involved, I will say it. I understand the club as different manager comes comes in and different ways of playing whatsoever, but the recruitment has to be from many United because player will get normally a five years contract And the manager will get two And you know that if he's not something he's not working, the club always gets rid of the manager first, then he gets rid of the player because it's much more difficult I think you always have to bring players that fit the club and then you bring managers that fit the club and the players you've got. And I think that says to be the thing that, for example, let's talk about op and pet why they were so successful? because They chose the players. in together us with the club that will fit the club the system and the way they want it to play And through the years, have they done mistakes, of course. have they bought players that didn't work? Yes, I think we were more the ones that worked than the ones that didn't And the ones that didn't work I haven't seen many of them coming out and talking aboutad about the club or about the manager whatsoever. Yeah, it's difficult to be there and buy you for fifty sixty, seventy million, and then you don't play when you thought, o I'm going to play because they ping this amount of money for me, I'm going to play. Then you get there, you don't play, off course it's difficult. But what I've seen is that They built in a way that the squad was strong enough care of those players that were not playing and were struggling. One of the things I've noticed as a change, especially this season is all this social media distraction, people posting on their Instagram stories when they don't play their brother's sister posting, my brother should be playing, whatever. All of this sort of like social media G off that some players were doing over the last couple of years seems to have vanished. And this is just an interesting, you know we talk about small things being interesting signals. So's one of the things I've noticed this year There isn't social media Nonsense going on. l I guess my question is is that something the club has done? Has been Have they sat you down and said stop this social media stuff? orr is it just a consequence of getting the right people together I think it's a little bit both, but at the same time, I think the club has to be the one being strong with the players When they see something that is not right or they don't like it or's not good on the players team on the attention this club gets I think the club needs to talk with them. and with the agents, with the families whatsoever that speaks out and says something because I think it's also on the players to make the families and Everyone that is behind them understand that what they put out or what they say can have consequences on our careers. Do do you talk to the players about this if I see something that I don't like or if I see them posting or replying to some people on social whatsoever, because for example, from such a young age I've said to my parents, I've said to my brother, I've said to my sister, I don't want you talalking without my like Wout me knowing because They don't know how to talk fatever, but theyre not aware what can be bad or wrong might think they were going to say something that is going to be good for me maybe as repercussions on other people. and I don't want them to do that. So My parents never spoke. my brother never spoke. My sister never spoke when I wasn't playing. Let people make noise, let people talk. It doesn't matter what they say I know for my momum, for example, she suffers a lot with this and I say Take it in donon't care prray at your saints like you do to me all the time. and make sure they do the right thing for me because thats that's what matters. And she kindes kind of like it's with that? Obviously, I know that probably when my brother says something or my sister, they want to reply to something, they want to say, it's not true. why are you talking about this my brother whatever. I don't want them to get involved in that becauses not going to be good for them. It's not gonna be good for me And it's not going to be good for my environment. and I don't want that. But I think that is because I was strong with my family in the first moment. and I think that's you have to be. I don't go home to my family and saying like No, this manage it isast, this manage it t I might say what I like or I don't like whatever, but I don't go in a way of like had someone that could put something out because I've been doing this I don't care like people to put out Oh Bruno is training so well. Bruno is doing this, Bruno is doing that I know I'm doing this That's enough for me H. And it's true because, you know, you've been through this process of transition with Ollie then Carac, then Rath, then Eric, then Ruben, then Fletcher, then Carick again And actually one of the remarkable things is I've never noticed your attitude towards the managers any different. I can't tell I can't tell As far as I' aware you support them all And that's how it should be, I think. If you've got a problem, I think is, you know, play, you should go tell them But we shouldn't know You know And we don't know. withith you, I don't know what you think of them. I agree with that. because first of all I like every manager that comes in my way because I learn with them and every manager comes in as their own idea, as their own thinking, as their own way of playing and they want me to do one thing, the other one, another thing, the other one, another thing. And for me that's good because they believe that I'm capable of doing different things that I was doing before So What I won't give to the managers is the choice or the option in their head to think 'm not going play Bruno. What do you do when you're not happy about something though? As the captain, do you go have a chat with them? No, I do whatever they want me to do If they think is the best thing for the team, I'm going to do it. Either I agree or not, believe it more or not. I make myself available for what they want to do. and percent If then it works or not, that's on them to to decide to decide that. if it needs to be changed or not. I'm not going to go to the management them to change formation, the way they play. if they ask me. I give my opinion If they don't ask me, I don't say anything What have you learnnt about what a good manager does and how to be a good manager from the six managers you've had For me, look through my career, I've always heard that you know like certain players should be treated in a different way than other players I don't believe in that is like the same as having a business You buy certain people to do certain things because you believe they the right person to do that So I don't think You then should change the way you behave with them You should probably approach them in different ways I believe in that because I'm not the same as you. Yeah Should you treat players differently on the pitch? because you you know, you shout at lots of your teammates. Are there some that you won't shout at as much? I treat all of them the same. and I think they're kind of getting to know exactly why I do it Everything that we' trained to imagine, let's see During the week we train these And we have seen emages of these. We know what we have to do. The managers prepred for us for that I demand that ast I don't care who you are. We've been a full week preparing the training, the game for this This we need to not to do it. thenen if you can make a pass Or you can make a goal or you can make a tackle, That's different That's the qualities I need from each one individually I've learned to talk with them in different ways with the same end result, not like I won't like go to one and say like being scared of saying things to him And the other one like because he's younger whatsoever, I'm gonna like shout at him whatsoever. Now. If I have to shout at this one, I'll shout this one. If I have to shout at this one, I'll shout at this one. If I have to praise this one, I'll praise this one in the same way I praise this one. And I think that you can see in my interviews I'm not afraid of saying what I feel At the same time, I'm not afraid of praising players for what they've done or what they're doing, even if they Probably in the moment they They haven't done as much as they needed to get the praise But for me I think he needs that praise to get into the next level. I'm gonna to give him something, but I make him aware I've gave you something but I'm expecting something more from you. It's like My dad Giving me like, you need to be better, you need to do more because he knows I'm capable of more. And this is why I demand from the players. I demand I'm very strong on them because I really believe in them. I haveve said this so many times so many different players.' like Trust me, the day I stop talking to you, the day I start shout, I stop shouting at you is because I don't believe in you anymore, and I don't believe you can improve anymore Your time at Manchester has been a bit of a roller coaster like this. kind like up and down and up and down you went second and then you dropped down the league second. And I mean, the last two years have been a prime example of that finishing ne near the bottom end of the table and then this year back up to third I'm wondering as a fan When things get bad and you hear all these sort of rumors breaking online that the manager iss going to be sacked, does that impact. the dressing room Like do you guys in the dressing room Because you've been through it so many times where a manager has been removed, what's that like when you know things are going bad? No, first of all, you feel it for the manager is the first thing because I think obviously certain players will feel it more than others because is's that players that play more than others and they obviously the ones that probably don't play they don't like to see managers going, but at the same time, if a new manager comes in, it's a new opportunity for them to probably get into the team more times they were getting before. And I think going through the process of changing manoney is probably the worst thing in sports because is starting from zero again. and eith people believe it or not, when you're through a process to the end of the process and understanding what's give to you as a player and what you can do more staff with that team and with that manager to go even further more. Why didn't you lose hope because he went through that. process of starting from zero, making progress, manager goes back to zero, making progress, manager goes back to zero. You know why? because every time I've spokeen this with Dogo before Every time we come for preseason is like and you start And you always get that belief of like, this is going to be the this is going to be the time This is going to be the time. H moments through the season that you get this belief that things are not going well The main thing I have is bully for myself. So I always think If I do things right and I take people to do things right and I help them to do things right as a team. We still have a chance of pushing oursel into positions we want to be and this Let's say this season has been that case because We struggle, obbviously, we didn't change manager because of results because we were Be in second place. B's behind to fight for f place we were same points till, I think from third to sevenh place was everyone with the same point, something like that So we were we were there was something different with the club that they felt that the trust between them was broke or whatsoever, and they end of decided to start a new process And that was bad because for us, when Rubin came was passed from the club iss like, this is going to be a process But we're going to go through these. going to be good in bad times. A we going to go through this Obviously, then the club decided that it was time to part ways and you started from zero with Michael But then You've got results And you went to the end of the season and you finished third And you finish what doing probably in the time Michael was here till the end of the season till now is we probably the team that has made more points. What did Michael change In the first moment, what what Michael tried to do is like to give stability to the team because As everybody understands, when you come in after a break you understand that You need to give stability and peace of mind to the players to back to the level He thought we could have And he brought the foundation and the base that has been in this club U from the time it plays Tim you managed And then he left He knows he knows the club. he knows how the club wants to play and he knows what the fans want to see. How is he different? Like what' what tactically or from a character perspective, what does Michael bring as a manager? I know as know just an hour ago or so, it was announced that he's going to be the Manchester Un manager going forward, which is great news But what is if you had to describe him to me as a leader and a manager, how is he different I think he's a very It gives you a lot of calmness, you know, in terms of whyy he wants from the team, the way demands, the way coaches U gives you it gives you a good way of going to the game with a good peace of mind with a lot of responsibility because I think From the time he was here with Sar Alex, he gave a lot of responsibility to the players to make decisions and to make choices on the pitch. have to be on you It gives you the base, it gives you the foundation, it gives you certain rules It is like the non negotiable ones But then he also knows and he wants us to take some responsibility the game that things might change because you prepare a game full week obviously, but then the team could come and do a different thing. likeike you prepaare to play against a four three three because they always play four three three and then they come and they play three, five two And then you go like, oh, and now manager can be on the sideline telling you where to press, where to go. So H as a players have the foundation, have the base, have the rules, non negotiables. and from there on We need to find a way of like Okay. Let's imagine we compress Because they've changed everything and the press we prepared was not the one we needed. Let's get compact. Let's get together. They don't get into our block. When we have the ball, we play with the ball We get into the off time and then the manager will give us the message he wants to give or whatever he has seen that we need to do differently in a way of getting a better result from the pressure. And I think that's what he gave to us the calness and the way he prepares games was very good, but when things were not going in the way we wanted, He gave responsibility to players to like make it work. Then we solve it So like a bit of freedom to is not exactly freedom because Freedom is a different thing. It like It gives you freedom with the ball to make decisions because he says That's your responsibility on the ball. I can't tell you where to pass the ball. I can't tell you where to shoot I can help you where the space is going to be. And I think that the most important thing for a player is knowing where space is going to be. You need to know where spaces are to then play with it. You know that they have big gaps there that we can hurt them from there. And this is the message that Michael has passed to the team. like duck from here, they have less people on this side We can bring more people in the box from this side. We want a very good counterpress because they have striker so we need to have three people in the back. Two of them mark, one of them stays behind. So this is the small things in the foundation that he gives to us. But then he says many times I can't tell you where to pass, I can't tell you where to sho I give you the solutions might not be there. So you have to find a way of making the good pass, the good shot, the good decision because I'm not going to be in your head in that moment, in your head's going to be the ideas I gave you. and some of them will be good. Some of them won won't work out. So you have to make a way of like understand the good ones I gave you and the other ones that are not working well You need to find a way of makeaking it work. So it's more just he gives you the principles instead of specific instructions on how to play and what to do kind of gives you, but then he lets you balance through the game. Okay lets Let's say He lets the players read the game. because In ninety minutes, many things happen G to always happen when you see in the video Hopefully, yes, but not always For example, let's say We had the chance against Not even forst that I passed the ball to Brian and his scores. We have seen the same chance from Villa againainst Forest. The exact same chs, exact same movements, exact same passes And we've seen that, we visualizeed that. and that's why that works We had the ideas. We knew we could make that happen And we made it Does he get angry Because he seems like such a calm guy. When you see in press conferences, he's very calm and very, you know Yeah, he did get hungry once or twice, but he's very calm in the way he speaks But I think I think everyone gets hungry anyway, but u He's a very calm presence and is someone that speaks very well knows the timing, the words, he knows what to say Um, and Whenever he got when let's get let's say more aggressive within us was the time that we needed to get that from him? And the way that you play is interesting because when I was looking at a bunch of your quotes over time, but also how I think about business, you are a player that takes more risks than most people And we talk a lot about failure in business and how you have to increase your rate of failure to get better outcomes. But you're a player that is Not shy of taking a risk. play in a way where you sometimes lose the ball, but you also, as we've seen this year in many other years you often are generating more opportunities than any other player on the pitch. How do you think about this? Because The way you play means that sometimes you're going to make a lot of mistakes. you're going to lose the ball. More so than other players. I'd argue even more so than some of the previous midfielders we've had like Carrick, who would often choose a more safe option than trying to play it through a thin gap M your attitude towards risk? I think it is always risk reward. you know you need to understand how much reward you're gonna to get from that u and if taking that risk is good for the team or not. Let's say the position I play You need that is has to be one of your main skills to take risks, to do things came de months from you to make sure that your team teammates in the front get the ball in the positions 's going to be The rate of success for them score goal is going to be higher I might miss two or three times But if I get one right, can become a goal for us? I think there's nothing better than a risky reward that is a goal So I think when you play as a number ten position, obviously, you don't want to lose the ball You has you have to make that as less as possible In certain positions, you lose the ball more often than others Wingers will lose more to polland when he once than read fters do Full Bx will do normally more crosses than centre box will do Number six is will make more tackles than striker will do balance in the team that you need to have. Let's imagine I played with Cobbian Casa They not a risk player If I take four times Let's say a Risky bus and they take one each. That's six times a game I need to be the one that takes four. they need to be the ones that take one each. because the responsibility they have in the team. is the one that they make the team play from the build up, push the team forward to then get the ball into the place that have to take the risks. because If you don't have the players that take the risks. You're going to end up bu And we talk like, for example, let's say, Man city There is a team that that let's say, guuardiola Tigitaka, all these things. The Brin was the player that take the risks. Cherokee is now not the play that takeakes the risks Fe flden Maris will be the ones that taking the risks on a one v one. Has the manager ever told you to take less risks Eric told me to take less shots from the outside of the box He showed me a board with my success rating of Shots on target, shots of target and goals show me the positions where I was more effective told me, I think you need to get more into these positions to then make a shot. I what positions?'s say Close to the box, like in the position, we will see the box And you would say like more throws left hand side, you score more goals. moreore throws the right hand side. your you aim more the goals showows the middle of the edge of the box. you miss more shots. So he was like, get more into the left side or get more into the right side or Close range, long range So But then obviously is we come back to the risk and reward So sometimes obviously you're going to score a great goal from twenty five yards out But how many times you're gonna do it five, do you maybe score one and it's a lot already. I need to make that risk become less and less and less. Getting more risk probably from eighteen yards. because they' the possibility of mis scoring a goal He might be Three and five because I'm much more closer. I can put more power in the ball can be much more effective I've spent the last decade building and investing in companies, and so often the conversation around marketing budgets follows the exact same pattern. The budget gets approved, but then the results don't come back. And most of the time, the creative pitch and the offer is fine. The problem lies with the audience. 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That's boncharge dot com slash dOac You've had lots of managers. so they've all asked you have different to be, you know play in different positions Hest On this pitch here. Where is it that you like to play the most I think positions where I can be more effectiveist this square, let's say. I would say let's put it things No just just need a square. Oh we just need a square. This is Let's see Imagine we attacking this time this This is the spaces where I think I can be more effective in this squarey. And different managers asked you to play in different positionses within here. Because for example U, let's say with Ruban used to play We at back One win back two midfielders U I'm not coming back like I think With Ruben I played a lot of times. this position when he first came And you want ad meet and in this position these two more more more than often, you wanted me to be one of these two to help here. to midfielders to build up and to get this sky higher position when he can be in the last line and to get the ball into this two. So what position would you call that? like left this was the left ten let's say, but he wanted me to play more like as a left midfielder to help them to like first of all, to have more stability in the middle. secondecond to get the ball. going forward takeake the risk of passing b forward. then Ive played a lot of times here What we're going to do is we're going make you unfortunately, we're going to make you blue just so we can see which one you are. Okay. Okay. In this one, when I played here, many times you wanted me here becausecause they were pressing, let's say, three against three and he wanted me to come and do the overload. so We have One more player to build up. So they will open up this on a little bit more this one more offensive. Normally was Lucaw and as a full buck he was used to play in this space And so then we could drive the ball and they couldn't press with the three they had. they wouldn't be able to press because we always had this one also to bounce the ball thenen Whenever we go up the pach with the ball You want to me here We even dead? Yeah you want me to play more a little bit more higher. to be one of the three tents and make this line of a three tenh. Then for example, with the O I was playing you would play like for two one and I will be the number ten and you wanted me to do this I can't go across And sometimes you want me to do this. and get the ball here. or here to make the long passes and to make the switches to to the wingers I think This bit here in the middle is where I'm more I think we all can see the best version of Bruno. If you ask me where I prefer to play anywhere on the pitach I think for the way we play This is the position I I can be more effective But I think I really enjoyed to play here. because I really enjoyed to get the team to play and if you I played many times with the and out like this I was the number six playing with two eight. And I really enjoy it to play here And he make myself being a different player more aggressive off the ball, someone that has to cover spaces for these ones. Regardless of where you are on the pitch, which can change? What is non negotiable in terms of how you play commitment 's that's non negotiable. like the commitment I have for what we have to do It doesn't change by me liking the position or not, me preferring one position or the other Um, one change? think rununning. fighting and Tam Spirit can never miss. It doesn't appear to me that you ever get tired And also one remarkable thing about you is you don't seem to ever get injured. I get tired. and Ily But how does that happen? Because I watch you run be the eighty ninth minute and you're running up and down still. Is that genetic or is that something you do in training? What is that I think obviously I have to say that I have good genetics, but is I was talking with Yog about this the other day also and the nutritionist about like genetics. how are you How you treat yourself and everything But then then at the same time I said to them, you know what's different on me than the other ones because I always train a hundred percent I make the training as a game. I don't care go full. And if I don't feel good, I need to make some extras. if I feel that the training wasn't like enough Let's do something else. let's do some shots. Let's do some crosses to someone. Let's do something that can make me go out of training and feeling like I'm tired. Why is that important Be I think in the game you need to get tired then You know, like, for example, when you when I'm training shooting practice or last third passes. I' rather train that when I'm tired. because going be The last twenty minutes of the game. Your brain is not going to work the same way it was working in the beginning because you get tired and you get to think slower a little bit So You need to be able to train your body and your brain when they are tired. And I think if you do that in training, when you get to the game and you start getting tired, Your brain is used to that also. Your body is used to be tired and he knows how to react into that moment These core principles that have been central to how you play have led you to Th given this The Captain'sZm band, which was quite there was lots of talk of it at the time because MagGuire was the capaptain before you. And it's quite atypical for the captain to be displaced while they're still at the club and for someone else to be brought in. And as fans from the outside, we wonder how MagGuire takes that, how Harry reacts to that, but also what that means to you to become captain of a Your dream club No, hestly, for me was a strange time because I wasn not expecting, you know, Tana called me to his office to speak with me. ask me if I wanted to be the captain because he had decided to change the captain and he wanted me to be the one to lead the team from now on. obbviously first thought was like veryy grateful somethingomething that I've never dreamed about, you know, like You can have many dreams, but you don't dream about being the captain, you know, like of your club And I think The second throw was like This is going to be tough on Harri. And the first person that I spoke with after I got out of that was Harry Because he knew already, I think the manager spoke to him. And before I said, yes, I went to speak with him because the manager basically made me the question if I wanted also like he didn't said like you're going to be the captain, that's it point. He asked me And I went to speak with Arya and the first question I made was If he was leaving the club because obviously, as you said, it's not something normal. I've never been through this in my whole career. And I spoke with him about the offer that they gave it to me and to be honest to him. and he said he said like if is there someone that deserves that is you? and I'm very very happy that Is you? getting the capaptal number one that if I have to takeake it off for myself I think you really deserve that. And I think that was point that made me understand I was doing things right, you know. Obviously I know for him was very difficult and I don't think you would have said something bad even if he felt it to me, but the way we spoke and the way I think I've been treating him through this years is also in the same way of like I said straight away to him like You might have lost the Aman, but you're still one of our leaders. and that won't change everything that We've been through because A when he was the captain, we always make decisions together also, because I was one of them And that hasn't changed now because every time I have to do or take some decisions for the team, I speak with certain players and Harry is one of them that is always there. And your performance this season speaks for itself. You've won Well you've done thirty four appearances, which I think is an achievement in and of itself because a lot of players aren't that consistent on the pitch. You've scored eight goals, twenty assists. You've got twelve player of the match awwards, which is the most by any player in the Premier League six playler of the mononth awwards and only Sergio Agrea, Harry Kane and Mohammad Salah have more, all of them have seven. And you've also wonir Matt Busby's Player of the Year Award for the fifth time the most by any other man United player. and that's an award voted by the fans. And there's other awards that I know you've won in recent times. I saw you on stage the other day winning more awards. What has what's happened whyy why are you sudden, you know, you've had you've been consistent throughout the whole time since you've been at the club, but this year seems to stand out For some reason No, I think I think for this season, first of all, I think when the team shines, the individual comes up And I think this season has being much better from the last let's say two seasons. At the same time, I think the assist record in all this going around made made me having a lot of headlines and stuff like that. Obviously is an achievement that hasn't been done for players just Kevin D Brun and Thieri so. I've got the little graph here. It says, Yeahah, Kevin DeBruna, Thieri actually spoke to Thieri about this as well, and he sends his regards to you. Congratulates you on the Joining him up there with with the record. Yeah, it's something like that I'm very grateful for. you know, like we put him I put my name in this in this case with them upp there is something something that I've never dreamed about or thinked about. like Id probably start thinking about that when I got probably into sixteen, seventeen as sis. I was like, o I'm actually getting closer now but it was not something that was in my head because In my head is always improving my last season and getting better numbers, better outputs, better performance. and it was never in my mind that I would go to eighteen, nineteen, twenty whatsoever But obviously when you start getting close, you start thinking about a little bit And then all of us as fans start watching the games to see if you can do it. And then and then obviously I think I've been very consistent in terms of performance during my Six years here. U probablyrobably other years where people that stand out that more than me and That's why I probably didn't got as much attention as I did this season With being captain and with being at the biggest club in the world, I think in terms of fan base, with that comes pressure and responsibility The world talks about you. you know no matter what industry you're in, an occupational hazard of being at the very very top or the peopleak your powers or being even better is more and more talk And you know, I think, especially because of this People are talking even more about Bruno Fernandez than I've ever seen You know, my group chat I've got May United group chat and we're watching the game. We're watching we're willing you to we were willing you to reach this record, which you did. And now because you're, you know, people are saying you're you're the player of the year in the Premier League, they're giving you all these big awards. with that comes even more criticism. And I think this is where your childhood has prepared you Yeah, but your dad sounds like your dad prepared you. I wanted to clear something up because it was on my mind. and I imagine it's frustrating for you, which is when your words are twisted in the media, and recently Roy Kean criticized your mentality based on a quote he got completely backwards. He claimed you said, I should have shot but I made the passes and used that to suggest that you were chasing individual assist stats. But everyone who actually listened to the interview, including myself, knows you said almost the exact opposite. You were being self critical of yourself and saying you should have passed the ball instead of shot because you wanted the best for your team. And so interestingly, because I've spoken to so many of your players, your, you know, your teammates over the last couple of days about you, they also told me that this is the exact opposite of your mentality on the pitch and off the pitch And I know it must be frustrating for your leadership style to be sort of misrepresented in that way How do you respond to that? Like how do you deal with that? when you hear it and you go, that's not what I said? Yeah, to be honest, like I've always said D don't mind criticism. I've always tak criticism from everyone and anyone and I never repplly to anything what whatsoever. People have an opinion. they think it's good, but whatever What I don't like is when peopleople lie about things and this case that you said about Rking, basically what I said is a lie because you can either either you saw some other interview or can't say that I said one thing that I've just not said And luckily for me is everything on record. Imagine if he wasn't then people will think like, oh yeah, Bruno is the guy always trying to go the assist. But one thing that is consistent is my number of creation is always the same. So it iss not to have been to reach these now. No, I've been creating chances since I came to the Premier League. Probably more than anyone else. So he hasn't changed that. type of play or of play or way of playing hasn't changed since I think came to Premier League. It's not that this season probably Roy Kin saw someone like Bruno creating more because he wanted the assist recer. No, he's seeing the same Bruno that 's about risky reward, it's about creating chances for teammates, It is about getting the best out of the other ones because The thing is like you will get criticized in a way. If you say if you' scoring goals, you will get criticized because you're not passing the ball and you're shooting if you doing assist it iss because you're passing too much and you're not shooting to score goals. So it's going to always be like that. peopleople will always make the the balance the way they want. they won't balance thing. they will put it the way they want the things to be. And obviously, I think I've always showed a lot of respect for Jin and for everything he's done for the club and for everything is 's always said, I've never ever had something to say. I've never said something wrong. I even ask O his number to text him to be honest to have a word with him, to say like that I don't mind the criticism. I don't like when people lie about things that I say because this is like goes a little bit over the top of the things that I think are acceptable I accept criticism, I accept that it can say things that I don't like and I don't like to see it. but As I said before, that improves me. What I don't like is that people their own words on what I said and it's not true. He can critic me criticizing me, killing me, say that I'm not good enough, that I'm not a good captain for him, that I'm not a good player for the club whatsoever. but is okay. I don't mind. Is the opinion? I like it. No, obviously I prefer Royin to Give me some praise sometimes because I've achieved something that not many players have achieved. I understand that this club is about winning trophies. I've never takeaked that of my mind. I've always said in front there for everyone that I wanton to in Premier League and the Champions League I never said I wanted to be the best player in the Premi Lague. Never neverever one time any any person has heard that Bruno wanted to get the assisted record or get the goals record or get the player of the season or get the being better than anyone else now, Bruno wants the club to be successful. Bruno wants the club to win trophies and that's all Bruno wants I accept his criticism, I accept that my likes like me as a player or not likes me as a person or not. What I don't like is that it puts words in my mouth that has not been said. That's the only thing I don't like. Well, I did actually ask your teammates What you would like And I asked them on and off camera, on and off the record I couldn't get some of them to be very serious, but What I've received is lots and lots of voice notes from lots and lots of your former players. I texted around last night And I'll play you what they said My friend Bruno taking this opportunity Bread some love to you I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you How much we value You as a player and as a person, I think not many people get to see how are you. the games and outside of the pitch So I would say that's one of your best qualities, the way you care, the way you One of the first to help everyone leadership consistency. That's something that I take from example and you know it 's been a lot of years together right now. so hopefully this This can continue and we can win so many things and so much more things together So For me, you're a world class footballer Consistently world class as well. which is which is very difficult I think everyone knows that how good you are But I think more importantly from from my view is how you are as a human being and that's the side that notot many people get to see. You know, the cabin passionate supporting demanding at the right times But yeah, I think for me, that is by far away probably your best quality. which's why you're the leader of this team and such a good human being. So for me, proud to call the captain, but more importantly a friend, so top clos I mean, what he does on the pitch obviously speaks for itself, but I mean away from football, he's an unbelievable human being. The way he treats people after people to way he lifts others when they need it. And I feel like the respect he gives everyone around him that says everythingvery about his character. and I feel like I've been lucky to spend a number of years with him and He's one of them people that you you kind of appreciate having around you every single day He's the type of player who makes people around him better without even trying We love you, Caputana We love you Cppatano I mean, I had so many more, but we just don't have the time Yeah, now it's just, you know The standout from that for me is just the way this speaker from me as a person, not more as a player, you know, like E end pick some people that I'm very demanding on them, you know, like the Oen Lu has been probably the place that spe been more time with me. Tom is probably up there with Harry Harry Luke, Dogo and then Tom and is people that I really respect a lot, but as I said to you, like, it's not what they say aboutove me as a player,'s more what they say from me as a person. that makes me very proud and very happy because You can be a good player and I'm going to meet a lot of good players in the world of football and you can train with a lot of them and meet them a lot. But I think that what it stays at the end is like the way you behave as a person. and I like to see that I have the good values that my parents showed me That's what I said at the start, when you started describing what your parents had instilled in you back in Porto. It sounded like what old colleagues and the players you play with said to me as well, because I've done this before and people will say, Ohh, he's a great player, he's amazing, whatever. But what was consistently true through all of those messages and there's so many more is they all chose to speak about you as a human And that that clearly comes from whatever your parents did at a young age. Why does that mean so much to you? I can see it in your face No because As I said to you, I think as a player you can be as good as you want. At the end of the day, I think the way you behave and the way you treat people around you is the most important thing because you spend so much time with them that they kind of become part of your day by day, you know, like you see more there often than I see my parents. For example, obviously my wife and my kids is the people that I see the most, but then after that it's them I don't see my friends from Portugal as often as them. My parents, my brother, my sister, I see more of them. and and the way I behavave, the way been raised the way I want to live my life and the way I want kids to be is the way they have said things about me and this makes me very proud What What is that emotion I don't know, it's just like it's good to hear that just just that. It's so interesting because I don't think anybody else that I've met would respond How you're responding to hearing people talk about you as a man and as a human I'm just a soft guy. doesn't look on a peach, but I'm qu quite a soft guy. One thing I've learned from interviewing a lot of founders and building companies myself is that trust is the real currency of business. It's the thing that gets customers to buy, partners to say yes and investors to back you. But as you grow, trust stops being just a feeling and becomes something you have to prove. becausecause the bigger you get, the more exposed you are, customer data, security expectations, regulations, all of it, and the risk of one small mistake becomes incible incredibificant And if you've ever tried to scale, while keeping on top of all of that, you'll know it can become a full time job. But our sponsor Vanta automates your compliance processes and brings compliance, risk and customer trust together through their AI powered platform. And the companies already using Vanta say they spend eighty two percent less time on audits because of Vant' plat. So if your organization wants to inject time back into building and growing, make sure you head over to vanta. com slash diary. That's Vanta com slash diary I've done almost seven hundred interviews with some of the most interesting people in the world. and one of the things you learn, which is unexpected, is that vulnerability is the doorway to connection. And after sitting here for two, three hours with a guest, I feel a deep sense of connection to them. And as they leave, what I get them to do is to write a question in the diary of a CEO. We've taken all of the questions from the diary of a CEO We have the question here on this card with the name of the person that wrote it. So you can sit at home as I do with my fiancee and my colleagues at work and other people in my life, whenever we get a minute, we play at the Di ofverso conversation cards. and it is incredible What happens? Wellese are great if you're in a romantic relationship and you want to connect your partner more. These are also great if you're in a team and you want to bond your team together. And I have to say, they're also great for families that want to learn more about each other and that need a good excuse to spend some time in a digital world in the analog environment connecting human to human. It is remarkable what the right question at the right time can do. Go to the diary. com And you can get these conversation cards One of the things I learned through my investigations is that you have a clause in your contract and you don't have to confirm or deny this. I'm not going to ask you to. But what I discovered is that you have a clause in your contract which allows you to leave for I was I found out sixty million and you chose not to leave Manchester United You got a very, very, very large financial offer. I mean, I've seen some of the numbers that are reported up to two hundred million to leadave Manchester United and you chose not to leave You could have rode off into the sunset frrankly, I think the way you were playing, you could have gone to almost any club in the world You could have got paid more and probably would have had a more certain guarantee of winning silverware. And for some reason you chose to stay When that offer came in reportedly from the Middle East, that you know, the big off that we're hearing for a contract that was worth reportedly two hundred million do Why didn't you go I said it before. I I haven't fulfilled my dreams here, you know, at this club Was that a conversation you had with your wife? Yeah, also What was that conversation? She seems to be there all the time when you make these big decisions Of course She' the one probably I never make a decision by myself becausees of his feat moving around nowadays. Two kids's a lot to say, obviously. and u more then I don't know, become most richest person in my h town. I want to Leave my dreams Bastroot values to my kids that they need to have And My family is always going to be the number one priority in everything I do Yeah because They followed my dream They my wife Obviously I know On the other side, it looks great life, obviously a lot of money, good, a lot of good things, but She chose to leave my dream with me and that says a lot about her because Let's say that when she chose to do that. I was seventeen years old going to a club with U point like let' say, U I you say fifteen hundred you say? one thousand five hundred? Yes A month U in Italy A lot of uncertainty, let's say, she had O whole life, she had a own Dreams And obviously She she said like I'm going to help you And that's what she did. Since ss day one until now. so She always has a say on everything I do And you've been with her since you were sixteen Mus six Yeah Six He was sixteen I was about to be seventeen so More or less t And the And then after that we have We have constructed a beautiful family Two beautiful kids Yeah And so on that day when you get you get a big offer to leave Manchester United, she's the first person you speak to. course course As always, I spoke obviously first my agent because he speaks with me about the offer, but then the first thing I did was call her And I was in I think it was Hong Kong that we were on the post season tour And timing was not the best to talk with her because of the time difference and everything But he was there again. And u T. wor she said was like have you Have you achieved everything you wanted to achieve in your career? Is this the next step you want to give for your future and for your career? like becausecause obviously This is the league I want to be. this is the best league in the world. This is where I'm gonna enjoy my foot polace. I'm not going tojoy it in any other place. so We We she left f. Jamous to feel free. Why does that make you emotion No know, talking about family It's it's tough because Um in the football where you go through a lot ups and downs and a lot of difficult moments And Let's say the ones that suffered most of them because they see your Good moments, your bad moments, your good things, your bad things Your good side, your bad side also But they always stand by you so That's the most important thing you can have in life And she's always been that She looks like my fiancee a little bit. She Portuguese. Portugese girl there V'sery dswth, I hear. Yeah, shez She's the one that pushed me down to W also and probablyb getting too much or Feeling too She's always also very, very tough for me to Make me understand that All these things to improve It's my, let's say. She's the second version of my dad Probably That's why I chose her and she chose me certainly Does she know this? Does she know? Have you been able to tell her Yeah ye I have a She's not She's gonna I can't say the words of what she's going to say after she ses this and sears me crying. She's gonna to say, I'm very soft. I won't say the word exactly what Let's say I'm the affection one, you know the one that likes es, that likes Shes she's more I don't know if she's She likes. she's She I think she She's her life, she had many things going on and she built this thing around her that she doesn't need. Let's say she doesn't need much love whatsoever, but is there many moments where I know she needs. I know she feels it. I know She kind of like She's just like's not good at saying what she feels. and I'm more open. I show more my emotions. I show more if I care, if I don't care, if I suffer, if I don't suffer, she kind of close it a little bit for itself Uh. But she's a very strong oldan to be honest. I know you have two beautiful kids together? Yeah We have a beautiful girl There was the first one time we were In Italy And then you came Little Conalo when we were in England. So one Let's say that she's always saying that she's hf Italian and one that basically looks like British is white, blonde Yeah And we' now English, let's say, and then two full Portuguese. I didn't realise your celebration where you cover your ears is for your daughter. Yeah. She covers her ears, right? Yeah, she used to do it when she was younger. She's too old for that now. She's a littleal I dont know. be very very strong minded, very strong attitude. She a lot from me in terms of being very strong and very She's like she can't take care of herself very well is exactly like her mom I wanted to say Thank you I'm a man United fan and hearing that you You know, have gone through this very tumultuous period with the club. where you could have gone, where you've had many offers from many people to go and do something else. and you've had offers where people offered you even more money. And for whatever reason, I think it I now understand because I've understood your values that your parents instilled in you, you chose to stay and to stick with us as a club and as a fan base. So on behalf of myself and all of my friends at M Unite Fans and the Manchester Unite Fan base, I just wanted to say a huge thank you Loyalty is increasingly rare these days in football because people are often thinking about other things. So as a M United fan Thank you so much doing that, you've also taught me something That's a man You've also taught me what loyalty is and how you treat other people. And you've taught me a lesson about responsibility in my businesses, in my relationships and in my life. And I think this is a really important lesson because there are so many young men that look up to you. And what you've said through the good and the bad times is that you keep on going You keep on going, you keep on fighting, you don't give up, you don't quit. And it's so great that the captain of the biggest club On earth has those values and puts those values before other things that might tempt someone with Less integrity So I just wanted to say a huge thank you. And I also am passing that on for many of your teammates who are very, very, very glad that you stayed Thank you very much. I really appreciate that Very kind of was from here And I hope you stay even longer because I think we're coming into an interesting period of Manchester United where I think we have a lot of the sort of foundations in place now to carry on But I hope so. And I think this club, but everything in general, the fans and everyone, I think really really deserve to be back to the glory days Things have changed. I mean, EOos are here now. I know the I know quite a lot of the guys at Inos. I was away in the in the tour with a couple of them during at the American preseason tour And one of the things they said to me is that when they arrived in the club there wasn't structure couple of them said to me there just wasn't and it's so rare that you have this huge gap between the manager and the ownership or the players and the ownership. that usually in clubs they're structuure, I think from what I've heard from players, they've put that structure in place now How has it changed withith Inios's arrival No, I think was first of all, was important because as you said we didn't have a structure, but it was very difficult for play to understand where they had to go talk in certain situations that we are not very clear we should talk with And now I think it's very clear that you have Jason, that then you have Omar and then you have Serjim I'm very aware that now The structure that we have is a good foundation and a good base for us to understand where and which places we need to go if we need something as a club or as a player has improved. We started a process with Ruben where we thought that would be a process of three, four years. That was the plan of the club Then we know there was a break in a relationship there between the manager and the club and they had to change, unfortunately A And now they they have announced that they want to go in the direction with Michael and Hopefully for me, I hope that stay stable because the main thing the club need is stability in terms of managing because If you really believe that Michael is the guy and you took him to the job, I think you have to give him the foundations he need to build what he thinks he needs for a successful team. A at the same time, I think you brought someone in that knows what are the followers of the club And I think that's the main thing and the most important thing that the club brings people in that know the values and know what's needed and have a great character to be at this club. And Michael's the guy Yeah, because as I said, I think is the one that knows the club better than any any player that he.' being probably more time at the club. I've been with him as a manager, assistant manager and then manager The way he behaves shows that he has the character to be the manager of Man United. and I think that's very important too have someone that in The full process will know always where he wants to go, where he wants to be and how much he wants this club to succeed. You said out to me earlier that since Michael Caracter has joined Many United, I have won more points than any club in the Premier League and that's stistically accurate. For this to continue on and to continue going forward, obviously the sum is going to be really, really important. And I was talking to a few of the other players about this as well, like Diego What needs to happen this summer in your opinion for Manchester United to continue to move up and potentially even fight for the title? We need recruitment is obviously we know we know like obviously we losing Casamiro. there is a Pival thing that we had. so we're going to need a player to replace him er is a player that is already in the house, there is a player that's coming. We need to reforce the team to become stronger as a team, not We need the best player in the world, this or that no. We need players that want to come to United to understand that we through a process that we want to win the league But it might not happen. this is the way we want to go to become the successful club that we were before. So I think the recruitment has to be the right one. We need to bring the right people in again, as we did last summer. I think in that roub and was great in the choices he made to bring the players he He did to the club because he brought good characters, good players. and good professionals also and I think that's very important for the next one. we have a closing dition on this pcast where the last guest leaves a question for the next guest, not knowing who they're leaving the question for And the question that's been left for you is if we sat here in five years time, And the five years that had just passed were a huge success What would have had to have happened Huge success at Let's say that I I've won the Premier League I' won the Champions League with the club. And we've gotrought got the old. the club back to the place he has to be in terms of club, obviously In five years time, I would like to be able to That's one of the gold ones do with my national team. Of course, that's Let's say that's my biggest goal in terms of career. World Cup probably the World Cup I would say because win the Premier Lague in the Champions League with this club will be amazing, but Representing my nation will be always the biggest achievement I have in my career because Now many players get to do that, you know, like representing your This is When you represent your people, when you represent your parents your brother, sister, wife, kids. This is you represented small nation in size, but in size, but big in quality and big in in love and fearless a fearless country that has conquered the world many times in different ways and do it in a football way will be a great achievement for us. irrespective of what happens here. and I very much believe that Manchester United has now the potential to go and challenge for these trophies here because of all the hard work. that has been put in by many people in this club, but also because of your loyalty, irrespective of what happens, you're going to be a cult here at this club forever.