Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted he was desperate to sign Bruno Fernandes as soon as he saw the midfielder playing live for Sporting Lisbon.
Fernandes has already become a hit at United, scoring three goals and creating two assists in his first six games at the club, and he looks set to become one of the most important players in Solskjaer's side.
Solskjaer has revealed he was convinced of the player's qualities as soon as he went to watch him in action in the Portuguese Ligue 1.
Speaking to Sky Sports , Solskjaer said: When you go and see them live you just get that feeling of the player. What impressed me most that day was his personality. We knew about his skills and quality.
"If you follow him and watch him all the time (you notice) that he cares so much and wants to win, he had that fire in him. I thought, yep, that's the character we need.
"He won't let anyone down. Letting the team down is the same as letting himself down. He wants to win and he knows we (win) together, everyone plays an important part. He's been a positive boost."
Solskjaer also singled out Fernandes' risk-taking as one of the attributes he has been most impressed with so far.
He continued: "You need courage, you need to be a risk taker at Manchester United . The fans demand it, the club demands it, it is what we've been brought up on with Sir Alex.
"Bruno coming in has boosted the players but for the supporters as well, they can see that we are putting pieces in place.
"I think most of them understand that you can't put six or seven pieces in one go. We've had four decent pieces in the jigsaw."
United are on an impressive run of eight games without defeat, and take on Derby on Thursday night looking for a place in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.
