Former Spurs and Manchester United striker Louis Saha says Sporting midfielder Bruno Fernandes is a "born leader", and a mistake was made in not signing the Portugal international.
Fernandes was strongly linked with a move away from Sporting this summer, with Manchester United and Spurs both said to have made bids for the 24-year-old.
However, the Premier League transfer window closed with neither side agreeing a deal, as Spurs instead opted to bring in Giovani Lo Celso from Real Betis on deadline day, as well as Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham.
And Saha says that missing out on the Sporting captain could prove costly for Man United this season.
"Bruno Fernandes is a player of great technical quality who could be extremely decisive at various points in United's game," Saha told Record.
"But more than that, he's a born leader and that's what Manchester United are missing this season.
"Only time can tell, but judging from everything that has happened, United made a mistake by not buying Bruno Fernandes and not signing a creative midfield player."
Fernandes made 33 appearances in the Primeira Liga for Sporting last summer, contributing an impressive 20 goals and 13 assists from midfield.
