As Bruno Fernandes captains Manchester United and pulls strings for Portugal, big brother Ricardo works for the NHS in Crawley and stars for 10th-tier Roffey
NON-LEAGUE NEWS
In December, 50,000 febrile fans watched Bruno Fernandes and his Manchester United team-mates succumb to a 1-0 loss at Newcastle. A little earlier that day, more than 300 miles south of St James’ Park, another Fernandes tasted defeat against North Greenford United in the third round of the FA Vase.
Ricardo Fernandes, 34, is not just the captain of 10th-tier West Sussex outfit Roffey, he’s also the big brother of Red Devils skipper Bruno. You’d have little problem in pointing him out, either, given he bears a striking resemblance to his famous sibling – something which occasionally makes him a target for opposition players and supporters.
“Oh, yes, that happens,” Ricardo tells FFT. “I’m not saying every game, but most games. I don’t mind people coming up to me and speaking about my brother. I’m glad Bruno is known around the world.”
Ricardo came to England in 2015, settling in the Crawley area and often working 12-hour shifts in a hospital. “We’ve got different lives,” he smiles. “Bruno’s a professional footballer and I work for the NHS. When I was young, my friends and close family probably thought I was the brother who was going to make it, but I didn’t and he did. People tend to think, ‘Oh, he’s got this and that because of his brother’, but me and my partner have earned everything ourselves. I’m very proud of Bruno, though.”
Ricardo admits it’s difficult seeing his sibling take stick, as he usually does as part of an ailing United side.
“Manchester United was a big step for him,” explains Ricardo. “You hear the criticism and sometimes it affects you. It’s tempting to comment, but you have to leave it.”
On the fields of Maia in northern Portugal, it was Ricardo who Bruno learnt from. “I think he always looked at me growing up,” he remembers. ��
