As per Sporting Lisbon’s gaffer Silas, midfielder Bruno Fernandes will play for Sporting Lisbon against Benfica on Friday night.
Portugal international Fernandes is reportedly closing on a move to Manchester United after the Old Trafford based club made him their No. 1 transfer target this month.
The Red Devils’ executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward held discussions with Sporting president Frederico Varandas last Friday at the club’s Mayfair offices before negotiations continued this week.
The player on his part has agreed of the deal Manchester United are providing, while Sporting – in need to pay debts to the tune of £40million this month – are hoping to land £50million plus add-ons potentially reaching £65million, for the Portuguese international.
The talks are still ongoing and a breakthrough is believed to be within reach ahead of a potential announcement on Monday, despite United’s boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remaining silent on the situation.
However, despite all the transfer speculation regarding the midfielder, Sporting boss Silas has confirmed that Bruno will start in Primeira Liga’s most historic fixture, in what is expected to be Fernandes’ finale at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
“The only certainty I have is that Bruno will play [in the derby],” said the Sporting boss at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
“We prepared the game with him, trained very well. He is the most valuable player in the league and last year he was.
“I’ve heard some people talk about money. He isn’t worth the numbers they refer to, but he’s worth a lot more.
“In addition to attacking, he kills himself to defend. There is no player doing what he does in Portugal and there was nobody last year either.
“When we have such a player, it is normal for a lot of people to want it. Only if there is a catastrophe will there not be.”
Silas, who once had a spell in English football with Wolves, also added that it will take three players for Sporting to replace their talisman.
“In Portugal, there are good players, but to replace Bruno we need three,” he declared.
“I don’t know if we are going to get some dynamics, there is no player who can replace him.”
