Manuel Fernandes Has Become a Player of FC Krasnodar

News
A contract has been signed with the Portuguese midfielder

Manuel Henrique Tavares Fernandes spent his childhood in a suburb of Lisbon where he played a lot of street football with Nani (the one who would become a halfback of Manchester United F.C.).  Subsequently, he joined S.L. Benfica's youth system and made his first-team debut during the 2003/04 season under coach José Antonio Camacho. A goal against Gil Vicente FC in only his second game at the professional level allowed Fernandes to become Benfica's youngest ever goalscorer.

Manuel became a regular first-team in the following year, and he helped Benfica win the Primeira Liga title after an 11-year drought. After the two years he spent with the Águias and a series of loan contracts with Portsmouth and Everton, Fernandes eventually signed a six-year contract with Valencia CF in 2007.

In reality, the Portuguese halfback played in the Spanish club for three years (including another half a year on loan in Everton), and then his transfer was bought out by the Turkish club Beşiktaş.

Four seasons in Istanbul became an impressive period for Manuel. He scored 20 goals and made 41 assists in 112 matches, including those two assists and a scored penalty kick in the won 2010–11 Turkish Cup final.

In 2014 Manuel Fernandes signed a long-term contract with FC Lokomotiv Moscow where he had been playing until recently. He won the Russian Premier League once (2018) and the Russian Cup three times (2015, 2017, 2019) with the Loko, and in season 2017/18 he also made the list of the top 33 players of the Russian Football Championship according to the Russian Football Union.

Manuel is an attacking midfielder, and he is distinguished by his fine technique and an excellent vision of the pitch. Besides, he is a talented player who executes a lot of set pieces, and he is equally capable of bending shots on goal and serving the ball well.

As for now, all the details concerning the transfer of Manuel Fernandes to Krasnodar have been agreed upon. The 33-year-old midfielder has successfully passed a medical examination and signed a personal contract with the Bulls. He has moved to FC Krasnodar as a free agent.

Goals

Club

Apps

Goals

Assists

2003-2006

S.L. Benfica (Portugal)

88

4

3

2006

Portsmouth F.C. (England), loan

12

0

0

2007, 2008

Everton F.C. (Englland), loan

24

2

4

2007-2010

Valencia CF (Spain)

83

3

6

2010-2014

Beşiktaş J.K. (Turkey)

112

20

41

2014-2019

FC Lokomotiv Moscow

144

34

28

* All stats are shown with the inclusion of the national Cup games

Manuel Fernandes’ Individual Highlights with FC Lokomotiv Moscow