'You're crazy': Darren Bent and Andy Goldstein clash over Bruno Fernandes as pair place £500 bet on Manchester United
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes would slot into any Premier League midfield.
That is the bold opinion of talkSPORT co-presenter Andy Goldstein, a claim which earned him the label of “crazy” from colleague Darren Bent.
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Since I moved to Old Trafford Joining Sporting Lisbon in a £68m deal in January 2020, the Portugal international has been an ever-present figure for the club.
He has contributed 79 goals in 234 games in all competitions and has lifted the Carabao Cup and FA Cup as captain of the Red Devils.
talkSPORT understands he will be rewarded with a lucrative deal until 2027, which will make him one of the highest-paid players at the club.
And United fan Goldstein couldn't help but praise the… 29 years old on talkSPORT Drive.
He said: “I think he would fit into any Premier League team, and I'd put Manchester City among them.”
The former Tottenham striker does not have it easy Bent He replied: “You're crazy! In what position?”
Goldstein then stressed that he would use Fernandes alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri in City's midfield three, which would leave Bernardo Silva on the bench.
This led Bent to say: “So you think he's better in big games than Bernardo Silva? Absolutely not.”
Bent then insisted that Fernandes would not make his beloved Arsenal Team lineup if Thomas Partey was fit every week.
He commented: “Let's say Partey is injured, (Declan) Rice, (Martin) Odegaard, Bruno, yes. But if Partey is fit, he wouldn't come into Arsenal's midfield, are you crazy? Partey, Rice and Odegaard, they wouldn't come into that midfield.”
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It was then that Goldstein further infuriated Bent by claiming he would start Fernandes instead of Gunners captain Odegaard.
“But I think he's better than Odegaard, so I would do it,” he said.
After Bent told him he was “crazy,” Goldstein continued: “No, I'm not, I think that divides opinion.
“Honestly, I think you're a bit surprised by the love you have for your club; putting Odegaard on a pedestal looking down on Bruno Fernandes is madness.
“I'm a realist and I think they're very evenly matched, but in your opinion he's way above him.”
Attention then turned to how United will fare in the 2024/25 season after Lost to rivals City on penalties in the Community Shield.
And although they differed in opinions about Fernandes, they managed to agree on one thing: a £500 bet.
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Goldstein has backed his boys to secure a place in Europe after saying they will finish in the top seven in the table.
Bent, meanwhile, has backed Erik ten Hag to finish eighth or lower for a second consecutive season.
Only one thing is certain: it will be a wild season in the Premier League.
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