Wayne Rooney never played alongside Bruno Fernandes.
They faced each other once – and both remember the FA Cup tie between Derby County and Manchester United at Pride Park in March 2020. The visitors won 3-0, with Rooney denied a memorable goal against his former club when Sergio Romero saved a free-kick its taker was sure was going in.
Rooney and Fernandes are two men with so much in common.
Manchester United captains, talismen and inspirations; both eager that the club continues to climb out of the doldrums and reconnect with a glorious past Rooney was part of before Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
But there is more that connects them. One evening in June 2004 for starters.
Rooney – the teenage golden boy of the England team. Fernandes – a nine-year-old football obsessive from northern Portugal watching the Euro 2004 quarter-final being played 170 miles away in Lisbon.
England were leading and in control until Rooney broke his foot. Portugal won on penalties. One day, one moment, elation and devastation revisited when the pair met at United’s Carrington training ground – a place both know so well.
“That was my first memory of the Portugal team playing,” said Fernandes.
“I shouldn’t say this, but when England lost on penalties, I was in my grandma’s house with my cousins. We ran outside in the streets screaming.”
“I was in hospital,” Rooney replied. “In a Portuguese hospital, still in my England kit, watching on a little TV.”
The mutual respect between Rooney and Fernandes is clear during a 40-minute chat for The Wayne Rooney Show.
The two men have made a combined 881 appearances for United.
Rooney is the club’s record goalscorer with 253. Fernandes, by common consent, has had the greatest impact of any of the club’s signings since Ferguson retired. If he claims three assists in the final five games of the season, he will break the record of 20 for the most in any single Premier League campaign.
Rooney won the players’ and writers’ player of the year awards in 2010. He thinks Fernandes should win them now, and is the perfect example for his team-mates.
“It’s a huge privilege to be in the conversation,” said the Red Devils captain, who is likely to face strong opposition from Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Gabriel.
“You can say as many times as you want that you want to win trophies collectively. That is true. But these individual accolades are always nice on the personal side.
“It is players voting for you. That has a different impact because you have been playing against them. If they recognise you as one of the best in the league, it’s a huge privilege.”
