Manchester United attacking-midfielder Bruno Fernandes has admitted that he has already started his coaching course to help him achieve his ambition of stepping into the world of management once he retires from playing.
The Portugal international, who joined United almost two years ago from Portuguese heavyweights Sporting Lisbon, does not turn 28-years-old until next September, but he has already started laying the foundations for once he has called time on his playing career.
Fernandes, who has struggled for form in recent weeks, will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of a number of fellow countryman who have stepped into the world of management in the past, with the likes of Jose Mourinho, Andre Villas-Boas, Nuno Espirito Santo and former United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz having all made names for themselves down the years.
Current Wolverhampton Wanderers chief Bruno Lage also originates from Portugal and is the latest Portuguese manager to arrive in the Premier League.
Now, Fernandes has admitted that he wants to step into the cut-throat business of football management in years to come, revealing that he has already embarked on a coaching course.
The United ace, who will be hoping to rediscover his true level of form when the Reds face Newcastle United on Monday evening, made the admission during a Secret Santa video with a couple of young Reds fans on the club's YouTube channel.
First asked who would be most in need of a diary within the United camp, Fernandes said: "I would give that to the boss [Ralf Rangnick], because he always needs to write his stuff for training. He needs paper to write his secrets."
The youngsters responded to Fernandes' answer by joking that they would, instead, give the diary to him. The Portuguese starlet then admitted that it may come in handy for himself.
He added: "Yes, because I want to be a manager, I am doing the course."
It is not the first time that the midfielder, who will be hoping to help Portugal reach the 2022 FIFA World Cup next year via the play-offs, has admitted that he would like to step into coaching.
Speaking recently, Fernandes told United's club website : "I'm trying to enjoy the football, you know. I think I want to be a coach. Honestly, I would like to be a coach.
"I don’t know which team I would like to manage. Of course, the biggest team if I can manage Manchester United, I will be happy.
"I can leave now just some words so if people see this, if I’m a manager in the future, the fans can make some pressure to bring me as a coach.
"But I think I would like to be a coach in the future. I’m not sure but for what I feel for football, for the feeling I have, I think I have to continue to be inside of football because my whole life is about this.
"So I think, in the future, it needs to be with football too."
Several former United players have stepped into management in recent years, such as the likes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes.
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