Why Arsenal target Mateus Fernandes named Man Utd as his dream club if he could go back in time

At a Glance:

• Arsenal target Mateus Fernandes expressed his admiration for Manchester United.
• Fernandes is a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.
• The West Ham United midfielder loves Bruno Fernandes.

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Mateus Fernandes has been linked with a transfer to Arsenal from West Ham United, with Declan Rice having already made such a move in 2023.

Arsenal are interested in signing Fernandes, who grabbed the headlines recently for missing a gilt-edged chance to hand the Hammers the lead in their latest 1-0 defeat to the Gunners. However, the 21-year-old has emerged as one of the most in-form midfielders in the Premier League this season.

With Christian Norgaard potentially exiting Arsenal in the summer, Mikel Arteta’s side would be in need of a brand-new midfielder in their roster.

Fernandes may have ignited fresh talks around his future after making comments about Manchester United.

• READ MORE: Rio Ferdinand: Forget Declan Rice, Bruno Fernandes has been better than two other Arsenal stars

Mateus Fernandes names Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man United as dream Premier League club

Myles Lewis-Skelly has excelled for Arsenal in the middle of the park but in Fernandes, the club could get their hands on another one of Europe’s most talented young central midfielders.

However, a potential red flag for the Emirates faithful is that the former Southampton wonderkid has revealed that if he could play in any Premier League era, it would be for Manchester United in the 2000s.

Fernandes told the Premier League’s official in-house media: “[Alongside] Cristiano in Manchester [United].

“What he did was unbelievable at that time and Cristiano was amazing so that era.”

Mateus Fernandes has expressed his admiration for Man United star Bruno Fernandes

Ultimately, playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary Manchester United sides would be a dream for most footballers.

Aside from Ronaldo, United’s dressing room boasted of legends galore such as Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar to name a few.

Mateus Fernandes pourrait devenir l’un des dossiers chauds de Manchester United cet été.

Les Red Devils estiment avoir plusieurs atouts dans ce dossier, notamment la présence de Bruno Fernandes et la volonté du milieu portugais de continuer à évoluer en Premier League.

L’avenir…

— Sébastien Vidal (@SebEcrivainFoot) May 8, 2026

Journalist Sebastian Vidal revealed that aside from the West Ham ace’s continued desire to play Premier League football, Bruno Fernandes’ presence is also tempting him to don the Manchester United shirt.

Fernandes told West Ham’s official website that the United skipper would be one of his five dream dinner party guests, saying: “I would probably pick five footballers! Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Lucas Paqueta, Lionel Messi and Neymar. I think there’d be plenty to talk about, and I’m sure I would learn a lot as well!”