Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes has addressed claims that Cristiano Ronaldo's return to the club last season has had a negative impact on his game.
Fernandes enjoyed a prolific first year at Old Trafford following his €63 million (R1.1 billion) arrival from Sporting CP in January 2020, registering 29 goals and 19 assists in his first 53 Premier League games for the club.
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However, in his 40 appearances since Ronaldo returned to the club, the attacking midfielder has managed only eight goals and seven assists, a sharp decline from his sensational start at the Theatre of Dreams.
Many believe Ronaldo's 2021/22 homecoming is a factor in the 28-year-old's underwhelming numbers. However, Fernandes has now dismissed the suggestion that his 37-year-old Portugal teammate is to blame for his lower goal contributions.
"Most of my assists last season were for him, so I don't think (it is fair that some blame Ronaldo for his lower numbers)," Fernandes told The Athletic.
"I just had a poor season in terms of my own numbers. I don't think it is about Cristiano or myself.
"Before he came, I was also taking the penalties, but I had two chances to take the penalties last season and I missed both. So I cannot blame Cristiano for taking penalties, especially when he scores them.
"When I missed against Arsenal in April, it was him who gave me the ball and said, 'Go yourself and score'. I missed but I felt that he trusted me to be the one to step up and score in the big moment.
"So I don't think it is because of Cristiano, it is because I didn't do the best in myself in some moments to get goals or assists.
"In the national team, I play with him and when I score, he is on the pitch. To play with Cristiano as a No. 10 is actually really good because players respect Cristiano so much that it creates more space, as the opponents are afraid of him taking the ball and scoring.
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"They want to mark him and (they) create an overload where he is to mark him.
"For example, when I scored two goals against North Macedonia (in March's play-off that secured World Cup qualification for Portugal), one was from his assist and the other was from his run which created the space behind him for me to score."
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