Bruno Fernandes didn't hesitate when naming the three toughest opponents of his Man Utd career

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes once named the three toughest opponents he's faced during his time at Old Trafford.

Fernandes has been at United since January 2020 when he was purchased from Sporting for an initial transfer fee of £47m.

Since then, Fernandes has gone on to score 88 goals in 268 appearances for United in all competitions and has been one of the best signings the club has made since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement back in 2013.

In his time at United, Fernandes has won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup but it has been overall one of the most difficult spells on the pitch for the Red Devils since his arrival.

Following the arrival of new head coach Ruben Amorim in November, United now sit 13th in the Premier League and look poised to finish in the bottom half of the table, with the Old Trafford club's only realistic chances of silverware this season coming via the FA Cup or the Europa League.

In his time at United, Fernandes has faced plenty of quality midfielders from across the top teams in England.

Speaking back in 2023 to Sky Sports, Fernandes revealed the three midfielders he had faced in English football which he believed were the most difficult to play against.

Bruno Fernandes and Declan Rice. (Image: Getty)

Fernandes named former Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante, Manchester City lynchpin Rodri and Arsenal's Declan Rice, who moved to the Gunners in 2023 from West Ham United for £105m, as the trio he found the toughest to take on in the engine room.

He said: "It is a difficult one. In the Premier League, you play against top, top players.

"I can tell you Kante was difficult, Rodri is really difficult, Declan Rice is really difficult.

"Declan and Rodri are physically really similar. Kante is more small but quick and sharp.

"But there are many players because we play in the best league in the world so you get to play against the best players."

Kante moved to Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad in the summer of 2023 after his Chelsea contract expired, having won the Premier League title at both Stamford Bridge and with former club Leicester City.

Rodri is out for the season after suffering a ruptured ACL following a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in September.

Rice, meanwhile, has made 33 appearances in all competitions this season for Arsenal, who are looking to win an elusive first Premier League title since 2003 after two near misses in recent seasons.