Manchester United attacking-midfielder Bruno Fernandes has admitted that he was determined to lay his hands on the No.8 shirt because it was the number that his father used to wear.
It was announced on Thursday that Fernandes has switched numbers ahead of the forthcoming campaign, scooping the No.8 shirt that had been vacated by former United playmaker Juan Mata. The Spaniard left the club last month following the expiry of his contract.
Fernandes has left the No.18 shirt behind to swoop the iconic No.8 — a digit that he wore throughout his time at Sporting Lisbon and, before that, for a time during his stay at Italian outfit Udinese. He has also won it on a number of occasions for the Portuguese national team.
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There was always a feeling that Fernandes would scoop the No.8 shirt once Mata's exit was confirmed, with a player of his type often renowned for wearing it. And the 27-year-old, who scored 10 goals last season, has now admitted that he was determined to wear it in United colours because of his family's connections to it.
"That shirt means a lot [to me]," Fernandes told MUTV. "There is a history behind that [number] because my father, when he used to be a player, he was playing with a number eight.
"He quit from football because he had an offer from work, and obviously at that time for me and my brothers and for all the family it was better that he had proper work than [to] keep playing football.
"[The number eight] is the number he was using for two years. Because it was also his dream [to be a footballer], it makes my dream a little bit of him."
Fernandes has a very tight relationship with his parents and has also explained the meaning behind his 'BF8' tattoo.
"The B is the last name of my mum, Borges, and the F is the last name of my father, Fernandes," added the United ace. "The eight is the day of my birthday.
"So this number eight says a lot about me, says a lot about my family, says a lot about my past and that's why I like to use [it]. And that's why it's my preferred number."
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