Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has revealed the remarkable work ethic of his former Udinese teammate Bruno Fernandes, saying the Portuguese midfielder’s dedication was evident long before he became a global football star.
Agyemang-Badu, who captained Fernandes during their time together at the Italian club, believes the Manchester United star’s rise to the highest level of the game came as no surprise, having witnessed his quality, mentality and commitment first-hand.
According to the former Ghana midfielder, Fernandes was already demonstrating an exceptional desire to improve during his early years in Italy.
“I was his captain at Udinese. He had so much quality, was mentally strong and worked extremely hard. He would arrive at training at 7am to work on his game,” Agyemang-Badu said.
Fernandes has since gone on to enjoy an outstanding career, establishing himself as one of Manchester United and Portugal’s most influential players.
His leadership qualities have also earned him the captaincy at Old Trafford, while his technical ability and creativity have made him a key figure for both club and country.
For Agyemang-Badu, Fernandes’ development into one of Europe’s leading midfielders has simply confirmed the potential he showed during their time at Udinese.
“When I saw his progress, I wasn’t surprised. I’m very proud of him,” he added.
Agyemang-Badu’s remarks underline the hard work and discipline behind Fernandes’ success, highlighting the commitment he demonstrated before reaching the highest levels of European football.
Having witnessed the Portuguese midfielder’s journey from close quarters, the former Ghana international believes Fernandes’ remarkable career is a true reflection of the talent, determination and hunger he displayed from his early days at Udinese.
