Bruno Fernandes has pulled no punches when speaking about his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo, mocking the 34-year-old's Portuguese accent as "one of the worst".
In a tongue-in-cheek conversation with Jesse Lingard, Fernandes ribbed his domestic and international team-mate. Though friends off the pitch, their city rivalry looms large with 198km separating Madeira and Maia, birthplaces of both of the former Sporting CP products.
Fernandes became the sixth Portuguese native to play for Manchester United when he arrived in 2020 and Ronaldo's sensational deadline day arrival saw him return to Old Trafford after 12 years away.
Diogo Dalot returned to the fold following a loan spell away from the Premier League as he came close to being crowned Serie A champion with AC Milan only for their city rivals Inter pipping them to the post.
"Sometimes it’s difficult to understand [when Lingard and Rashford are speaking]," he said speaking to Jesse Lingard on YouTube series Wingmen.
"I like the way you talk because in Portugal it’s the same. Some words in Portugal, if you ask Cristiano he will say me and Diogo we speak in a different way to him.
"His original way is one of the worst Portuguese way. Cristiano, from Madeira, oh my god, you swear Portuguese people cannot understand what they say."
Ronaldo this week stole the headlines reaffirming his status as one of the best as he pulled Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side from the depths of disappointment once again with a perfectly placed header to secure the comeback against Atalanta.
Not a new feat for the former Juventus man in his career. It wasn't the first time in his United career, nor was it the first since his return having last month scored the winner against Villarreal to secure United's first points of the group stage.
To play alongside Ronaldo isn't like any other feat for Fernandes.
"Growing up, everyone knows Cristiano was my favourite player," he has previously said.
"We young people look at him as an idol."
The pair have seven goals between them this season in the Premier League and will be looking to continue bringing the Portuguese connection to the Reds.
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