Fernandes spent the campaign on loan at Portsmouth and Everton but will return to Benfica this summer, while his Portugal Under-21 team-mate Nani travels in the other direction to join United from Sporting Lisbon after the European Championships.
Portugal have not won a game yet in Holland but Nani has shown glimpses of what fans can expect at Old Trafford, with similar poise and trickery to Ronaldo, who inspired United to the title last season.
While Ronaldo had the pressure of facing jeers from the crowd for his part in Wayne Rooney's dismissal at the World Cup, United's new Portuguese prospect has the expectation of a high price-tag.
But Fernandes said: "He will be a great player. He is very strong and that is why a team like Manchester United wanted him.
"Of course, Cristiano inspires us all, everyone needs to look at him because he is one of the best in the world.
Strength
"I wouldn't say I was impressed with the way he handled himself after the World Cup because I already knew all about his mental strength. That has helped him become the player he is now so I am not surprised.
"He has always been like that - not only physically strong, but mentally strong too. I believe Nani has these qualities and only time will tell."
Fernandes, who played with Nani on the streets of Amadora as a child, is wary of comparing United's new signing to Ronaldo.
"Nani isn't the new Ronaldo," he added. "One is Ronaldo, the other is Nani.
"You cannot put both players in the same package. A lot of pressure has been put onto Nani in comparisons with Ronaldo but he must be left to do his own thing."
The pair have both played in Holland as Portugal have recorded a draw with Belgium and defeat to the hosts, after which Nani was required to undertake a random drug test.
How long do you think it will take Nani to adjust to the demands of the Premiership? Have your say.
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Birdy, Ireland (15/06/2007 at 11:00)
Jonathan Chin, Truly Asia (15/06/2007 at 11:41)
Red Dawn (15/06/2007 at 12:30)
Of all the papers out there that is the last one you would expect to see something like that in.
How is he failing to justify his price tag when he hasn't even played for United yet?
Who in their right mind judges a player based on two U 21 games lol.
It really is laughable.
It will take Nani time to settle in, just like it did Ronaldo, and we wont see the best of him until after 2 - 3 seasons I would imagine.
It took Ronaldo three seasons to show his true potential.
Dan (15/06/2007 at 12:33)
Also ROSSI is a dilema for me. I love the kid and i think he is great but drawback is his physique. I know people say Owen is small but can Rossi cut it in EPL with his stature. No doubt about his quality just hight and body.Also can he play in same team as Rooney as both like to play off the front man ... what do you say?
Birdy, Ireland (15/06/2007 at 14:09)
Duncan, London (15/06/2007 at 14:16)
Red Dawn (15/06/2007 at 14:36)
If you want to make room for Pique and Evans, then selling Silvestre and Brown would be a start, but would leave us light at left back then.
Personally I think Leighton Baines would be a very good signing, and wouldn't cost the world. He and Evra could cover the left back position for the next 8-10 years.
Our defence would then be (including cover)
Right back: G.Neville/Simpson/O'Shea
Centre back: Ferdinand/Vidic/Pique/Evans
Right back: Evra/Baines
The experience level of Pique, Evans and Simpson would have to be questioned, especially in the big games, but you are either good enough or you aren't, and personally I think they are good enough.
At the end of the day the manager will decide, so what we have to say here will have no baring on how things will eventually look.
Macca, Cornwall (15/06/2007 at 15:31)
VALTINHO, LISBON (15/06/2007 at 15:39)
It's wrong from the media to compare him with Ronaldo just because he is a winger from Portugal and from Sporting. They are different players and even if I don't believe that Nani will be as good as Ronaldo, he plays a more direct football style and therefore adapt better to the PL. Just to give you an example he doesn't use stepovers in his dribbles and plays the ball much earlier to his coleagues than Ronaldo did at his age. Bad to put pressure because of the U21 tournament...totally difference than club football and he was really good in Sportings season. I remenber Ronaldo at the olympic games he wasn't good but great at United; Quaresma was terrible last year at the U21 finals, that didn't stop him having a great season at Porto.
Don't take in account what newspapers write watch him and support him. Nani was a great buy and so Anderson. Can't wait to see them next year.
VALTINHO, LISBON (15/06/2007 at 15:58)
It will be hard to any youngster at the age of 19, 20 to have a first game like Ronaldo did against Bolton. To be honest I have never seen such impact as that.
Ronaldo had an hard time the first two season and a lot of United supporters doubted him so I don't expect an easy ride for Nani but like Carlos say: " if they will do half of what Ronaldo did it will be wonderful". Maybe you are right about doubting him BUT would you be sure that Ribery, Nasri, Malouda, Reyes would be a safer buy??? Real bought Emerson and Diarra, Chelsea Ballack and Sheva, Liverpool "oh, forget it, they bought a lot of them..." but were they a safer buy??? Come on give them a chance. The odds are good for them, both SAf and CQ are fantastic with kids. Can tell you something if Quaresma would have gone to United instead of Barcelona you would probably have CR's and Quaresma jersey in you room.
Duncan, London (15/06/2007 at 16:56)
However if he realises his potential and Anderson is the player we hope him to be then it will make the next 10 years a decade to look forward to and hopefully we become the second club for a lot of Portuguese football fans.
chalie chan,your man in japan (15/06/2007 at 17:18)
Trust me.
charbel (15/06/2007 at 18:17)
Red Dawn (15/06/2007 at 19:35)
How is that a way of reducing the pressure on Nani? It only increases it considerably because everytime he goes out on the pitch he'll be putting extra pressure on himself to perform and try things he normally wouldn't because he'll feel he has to justify it.
Fergie hardly told The Times to print an article saying Nani is failing to justify his price-tag. That is absolutely ridiculous. If anything, reading that article would infuriate Fergie.
If he wanted to speak to the papers to print something to take the pressure off him, they would simply print that the boy is going to need time to adapt to the PL and mature, and not expect too much too soon, and the fact that he has been outstanding already at Senior level etc... The Telegraph had a far more level-headed approach to things, but sadly some papers are going to see him as a price-tag and nothing more.
I never expected to see an article like that in the Times. It was totally ridiculous considering he hasn't even kicked a ball for United yet and is only 20 years old.
I wouldnt be surprised if Chelsea paid someone to write it to try and mentally unsettle him.
de Meester, netherlands (15/06/2007 at 20:17)
He looks trickey but is already more direct than CR!
Further this Fernandes we should have signed also!
VALTINHO, LISBON (15/06/2007 at 20:20)
If Benfica buy any player above the five million rate( the same as 17 million in England....no money in our clubs, thats why we have to sell our best players) than I want them to show their value and even though I am a bit more patient than most I want results....Now I can see players with talent like our new CB Luiz( brazilian) and M.Fernandes than I can be patient. Nani is a player that I would no doubt be patient even if my club spent a lot of money on him.
How old is Carrick?? 26,27?? had a bad start of the season but by the end he was quite good wasn't he? and don't forget that he only played in England and his mother tongue his english.....Look Duncan you will realize how good he is straight away and I'm sure you will give him time PLUS more important: SAF and CQ knows that it was the right time to get them to allow two years of exchanging places with Gigs and Scholes, Slowly. Coaches like SAF, Scolari, Wenger, Capello, Mourinho, Benitez know exactly what they want. Sometimes they have a bad decisions but mostly they are right. I have an huge simpathy for Fergunson maybe because he is not a sad man with a dream job like Mourinho and allows to show his passion for the game.
Alias Smith, over the moon (15/06/2007 at 23:33)
The second was a similarly complimentary article which ended with something along the lines of United's future being very bright with Nani in the side.
So which paper is correct? I think the reality is that Nani should not and cannot be judged on a couple of U21 appearances. I personally pay much greater heed to what Valtinho has been telling us not just since we signed him but for some months now. I believe what we have in Nani is a good player with the potential to be very good, perhaps great. He's not the finished article and he's mainly one for the future - he will be polished up by the coaches at United.
I expect him to give SAF the opportunity to keep Giggsy fresh for the bigger games and eventually become his replacement.
Mr Anderson, on the other hand, looks like he could make a BIG impact for us in his first season. Powerful, quick, direct, great technique - the PL should hold no fears for him.
Steve Chew, usa (16/06/2007 at 16:39)
Go MU!
Red Dawn (16/06/2007 at 18:33)
That is exactly my point.
You cannot judge a player based on 2 U-21 games. You need to judge him and let him develop over the course of atleast 2 seasons before he starts to show his true potential.
Both articles in the Telegraph were level-headed views on what could be a very good player for United.
The Times article was just ridiculous considering the player hasn't even played for us yet.
Red Max (17/06/2007 at 15:05)
Today's angle compares him with the Dutch U21 winger Denthe ( not sure of spelling.) It claims that if said winger transfers to the EPL then he's sure to make Nani look average.
Its incredible how such a newspaper, which panders more to rugby, cricket and hockey enthusiasts can make such predictions on a sport most of their hacks have no experience of.
Duncan, London (18/06/2007 at 10:50)
Red Dawn on a similar vein it is to be expected that the press will bring out these stories as 17 million is a big fee for a 20 year old and it is just something we simply need to handle and I'm sure SAF and CQ are already prepared for this.