THE ACTOR" IN THE THEATRE OF DREAMS

Since Paul Pogba joined Manchester United from Juventus many fans of the club are yet to accept that the French World Cup winner has impacted much on the team or taken the responsibility for carrying the club on his shoulders.

Alexis Sanchez moved into Old Trafford from Emirates but struggled till he was sent on loan to Inter Milan and only today asked to stay permanently with the Nerazurris.

Belgian big forward, Romelu Lukaku joined United from Everton but, he wasn't seen by the club manager then as good enough to carry the club burden on his shoulders. He was allowed to go to Inter Milan.

Then came 25-year old Portuguese international Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes. A player who could operate from any part of the midfield.

Initially, not many wanted to notice him. He was seen as another Portuguese player who will be dwarfed by the glittering record of Cristiano Ronaldo in Manchester United.

Suffice this to mean that he was then viewed from the perspective of Nani.

Fernandes had other plans in his mind. He wanted to carve a niche for himself. He wanted to be his own man...his own player. He didn't want to hide under anyone's shadow. He wants to stand out.

Fernandes joined United in January 2020 at a point the club was struggling. Recall that as at then, the biggest player in terms of value, Pogba was out to injury.

Incidentally, Fernandes operates from or in the same department as Pogba. United needed a player to tidy up or anchor the midfield by controlling or taking charge of both the defensive and attacking units of this vital department.

Fernandes fits in. He roves. He tackles. He supports the attack. He closes down on opponents to cover the spaces in front of the defenders. Yet he scores goals. He takes set-pieces. He takes penalties.

So far, he netted eight and was able to carry the team on his shoulders despite being a new buy.

He is presently the name on every lip of Manchester United fans....Yes, not Pogba, not Anthony Martial, not Marcus Rashford and not Harry McGuire. That is how important this player is to the club.

He was signed for £49m but his performance in since joining in eight months ago is far bigger or more valuable than that figure or sum says, experts in players rating and market value.

Certainly, Fernandes is the main actor in the movies shown in the Theatre of Dreams. By the start of next season on September 12, the actor is expected to entertain guests graciously by continuing from where he stopped.

Where did he stop? Sure, he led the club to a third-place finish which landed them a Champions League ticket. Recall that the club was struggling when he arrived eight months ago. His contributions helped grossly to earn the team a continental ticket.

The actor will have a bigger stage to perform next season...from the Theatre of Dreams to Europe, Fernandes has huge responsibilities. But he will surely perform.