After just one year at West Ham United, Mateus Fernandes finds himself in the midst of a potential bidding war between Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
Vasco Seabra always knew the Portugal international had something special; Fernandes was labelled the ‘ultimate midfielder’ by his former coach before joining Southampton from Sporting Lisbon in 2024.
But even he did not see this coming.
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He's good – but is he THAT good?
Relegated from the Premier League in two successive seasons and then an immediate jump to Real Madrid?
Speaking to Radio Renascenca, the man who worked with West Ham United’s number 18 during a loan spell at Estoril in 2023/24 acknowledges that he has been taken aback by the speed of Mateus Fernandes’ ascent, if not the quality he demonstrated during what looks like being a brief but brilliant Hammers career.
West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes is reportedly a Real Madrid target
“Mateus has demonstrated season after season that, the higher the level he competes at, the better he can respond,” says Seabra, under whom Fernandes played 35 times. “I’m not yet quite sure at what level he will be able to stagnate or stabilise.
“It seems to me that he’s the type of player who, the higher the level, the more value and quality he can add to the team.”
Hammers News reported shortly after their relegation was confirmed that West Ham wanted double the £40 million fee they gave Southampton ten months ago. Atletico Madrid have reportedly ‘abandoned’ their pursuit already; Fernandes’ eye-watering price-tag making him a realistic target for all but the most deep-pocketed of European powerhouses.
Vasco Seabra thinks Jose Mourinho and Fernandes is a good match
According to reports in Spain, compatriot Jose Mourinho would love to take Fernandes to Real Madrid.
“He has a huge range of abilities,” adds Seabra. “He has technical quality, he’s a kid with a fantastic heart and mind.
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“We expected, and I in particular expected, that he could reach top teams so quickly. “But it would be false to say that I expected, two years later, he could be on Real Madrid’s radar!
“He was really very young when he came through our ranks [at Estoril]. We expected him to reach Premier League level in a very short time. He really had a mentality and a commitment to the game every day, in training as well, that made me predict he could reach a very high level.
“Mateus essentially needs people to trust him, to demand more from him.
“I believe that a profile like Jose Mourinho’s – an expert in communication, in leadership, in how he manages the expectations and frustrations of players, lifting them up and challenging them to be better – would be a very fruitful match for both.”
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