Fernandes joins Sporting Lisbon in Manchester ahead of Champions League clash

Bruno Fernandes has reunited with the Sporting Lisbon squad in Manchester ahead of their Champions League clash against Manchester City.

The Portuguese side are in the north west for the second-leg of their last 16 tie.

Sporting are all but out having lost the first-leg 5-0 and would need to make history if they were to overturn the deficit.

Fernandes left the Lisbon outfit back in January 2020 to move to the red half of Manchester.

However he has taken the opportunity to see some old friends more than two years after leaving for pastures new.

Sporting shared images on social media of the Red Devils star chatting to his former teammates at their hotel prior to Wednesday's game at the Etihad.

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It was captioned: "Forever a Lion. Today visited the hotel where our team is staying."

Club captain and former Liverpool man Sebastian Coates was among those to speak with Fernandes.

United spent £67.6m to sign Fernandes and it proved to be an inspired piece of recruitment as the playmaker ignited their season and helped them finish third.

The 27-year-old had been a huge hit in his homeland with Sporting, scoring 33 times in his final full season. All in all he notched 64 times in 137 games for the Portuguese outfit, who have gone on to do impressive things since his departure.

Fernandes left his mark at the Estádio José Alvalade, winning a host of individual accolades whilst helping the club win three cup competitions.

When the player left Sporting said on social media: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."

The Portuguese club are currently looking to defend their domestic crown having won the Primeira Liga last season under Ruben Amorim.

Amorim, who is just 37, is among the brightest young coaches in Europe and has been linked with the Old Trafford hotseat.

However he is well aware of the task that faces in side in Manchester having said: "Looking at the players they have available, it is not easy at all.

"They have a small squad, but one with great quality, with a lot of skill and that have had a lot of time to workshop."

On the improvements needed from the first-leg he added: "We started the last match well and we managed to have the ball, despite the goal that we conceded.

"It would be beneficial for us to be able to press better — which is very difficult against Manchester City — and to have more of the ball.

"At Alvalade it was atypical, because when you are at a disadvantage it is very difficult to chase the ball. There are many challenges."