Manchester United: Emmanuel Petit praises Bruno Fernandes impact and backs partnership with Paul Pogba

Fernandes joined in January and has helped spark a United revival

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has praised the quick impact of Bruno Fernandes since joining Manchester United.

The Portuguese international signed in January from Sporting CP, having initially been linked with a Premier League move last summer.

He has quickly settled and become a key player for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, playing an attacking midfield role amid a run of improved form prior to the season’s postponement earlier in March.

And Petit says that Fernandes has had a transformative effect on the squad and was the best signing in the January window.

“Fernandes has made a huge impact,” he told the Mirror.

“In the space of two months he is the best buy in the winter market. He has made such a big impact. It’s like he’s been at the club for six years.

“He’s changed the mentality inside the dressing room. It’s hard for a player to come in mid-season and do that.”

Looking further ahead to the return of action at Old Trafford, Petit says Fernandes is showing what a fit-again Paul Pogba could also bring. Importantly, he feels there is scope to field both players together.

“Paul Pogba was meant to be doing this at Manchester United. It’s what he should have done in terms of leadership on the pitch.

“But I’m looking forward to seeing them together on the pitch, I want to see if that can work, and I’m pretty sure it can work.”

Manchester City face a fierce backlash from Premier League rivals over their Uefa ban (PA)

Meanwhile, across the other side of the Manchester divide, Petit feels that Pep Guardiola may opt to go back on his word and leave the club if it transpires their Champions League ban is upheld. However, rather than the manager being the central focus, Petit feels that player departures as a result of the ban might mean a fundamental shift away from everything City have built over the last decade.

“I think that could be an option for him [quitting City due to the Champions League ban].

“It could be an opportunity for him to step back and have some rest. It wasn’t a long time ago that he seemed clearly tired of being manager.

“For me the main worry is what would happen...after the appeal. Everything that City has been doing for the past five, six, seven years, in terms of investment.

“Everything they have been building could be ending soon. It could change everything at the club. Top players want to play in top competitions.”