Bruno Fernandes: Roy Keane Twisted My Words. They Offered Me £200M, I Said No.
In the In the football career, you go. through a lot ups and downs and [music]. a lot of difficult moments. And uh. Let's say the ones that suffered most. are family. Uh. you. They [snorts] um. They see [music] your good moments, your. bad moments, your good side, your bad. side also. >> [snorts]. >> But uh they [music] always stand by. >> Your time at Manchester United's been a. bit of a roller coaster like this. And. so on that day when you get a big offer.
[music] to leave Manchester United for a. contract that was worth a reportedly 200. million, why didn't you go? >> It's Captain Fantastic! >> Manchester United's captain, Bruno. Fernandes, has arguably become their. greatest player in the post-Ferguson. era. There isn't a single player in the. Premier League who has more assists. since his arrival. He's won more club. player of the year awards than Ronaldo. And only five players have scored more.
than his 70 league goals. So I'm at the. Manchester United training ground to ask. him the questions the footballing world. wants to know, including. >> Recently, Roy Keane criticized your. mentality based on a quote he claimed. you said. >> How do you respond to that? >> You can criticize me, kill me, say that. I'm not good enough, that I'm not a good. captain, that I'm not a good player for. the club. It's okay. I don't mind. What. I don't like was when people lie about. things. I even asked Ole his number to. have a word with him. >> Did you speak to him?
>> [music]. >> Bruno, to understand somebody, I always think. you have to start with where they. started and the the early context that. they grew up in. And we were just. talking before we started recording. about Porto. I'm on a journey to. understand why you are the way that you. are cuz you're such an anomaly on the. pitch. And your your career, when I. track the journey of where you've come. from and how you continually were. promoted and pushed forward at a very. young age. It's clear to me that your.
early contacts, your early upbringing, and whatever it was that was present at. that age has shaped you in some very, very important way. What is the sort of. earliest thing I need to understand. about where you came from and that. environment? >> For me, it's all about family. It's. about taking care of other people. And I. think to succeed not just in in sports, but in life, you need to be you need to. be very careful of of your surroundings. So, I think the values of my family, the. values of my of my parents were were.
what make me the person and the player I. am today. >> The older I've gotten, I'm now 33, so I. think I'm 2 years older than you, the. more I've realized actually with time. what I learned from my parents and like. the values that my dad in particular. gave me. He never For a lot of the. things, it's not something he ever said. to me. It's like modeling what he did. So, seeing how he behaved, >> Yeah. >> What's that for you? >> It's It's kind of the same, you know, like. my father was never a person to to. show his emotions too much or tell you. what to do or how to do it. Uh he would.
just do it. And you would understand by. by by his behavior, by the way he does. things that that was. his way of showing us how it has to be. doing. Was never a person of like. hugging, kissing, and stuff. He's got. now into that even when I come out of. games and stuff. You see like I I I. always get his hug. I always get his his. kiss. And this is something that. as a kid, I knew how much he loved me, but. in in this small aspect was always my.
mom giving this kind of love. He was. more. in the way of he was showing how things. have to be done, how how much you have. to sacrifice yourself to certain things. My dad was very strong with me in term. of like games. Imagine I could come out of a game. scoring two, three goals or whatsoever, and my parents, my dad in this case, would always pick up the bad moments I. had in games to make me understand that. wasn't that wasn't that was good but.
wasn't great. There's always margin to. improvements, you know, there's always. small things. And I think I've learned. such from such a young age to deal with. criticism. that I'm now in probably in one of the. biggest clubs in terms of like getting. criticism and attention. that doesn't hurt me. Like, I don't like. it, obviously no one likes to get. criticized, but it doesn't hurt me. It. doesn't change the way I behave. It. doesn't wait to to doesn't change the. way I want to do things. But from the. other side, it makes me understand there. is still things to improve. And I listen.
to that and I I I I look at my game and. I see if it's needed of changing of. improvement in my game. And and my dad. was always very strong in that with me. And I see nowadays the parents, you. know, my dad never wanted me to be a. footballer. He wanted me to become a. better person, a better player on or a. better student. Everything I want to I. wanted to do, he just wanted to me to do. it at like 100%. You need You want to do. this? You have to do the best you can. You can't just be happy with You go to a.
test and let's say in Portugal was from. 0 to 100% and you have 98 and you'll be. the most obvious person in the world. No, you can be happy because that result. is amazing, but you left 2% then that. you still can improve. So, you always. always showing me that. even if it was just a small thing or a. small detail, you still have something. more to do. You still still have. something more that you can improve or. become better. And that's something that. has stuck with me not just in football. but in life. I don't like to do things. 50%, 60, 70, 80. Whenever I'm included.
in something, I want I want to go full. I want to learn as much as I can. I want. to be. the best version I can in that aspect, whatever it is. >> I mean, it's it's really interesting cuz. I I I wondered to myself how you I think. you start playing football at 5 years. old. >> Yeah, 5. >> And were you good from. 5 years old? Were you Were you different. from your peers at a young age? >> In such a young age, I I never think. about being a footballer. I just wanted. to play football for life. I'm just. happy playing football. I just want to.
have. this ball in my feet every time, all. time. >> And you joined FC Infesta. >> Yeah, that was my first club. >> At 5 years old. I mean, I've got some. photos of yours. as a young man here. I've got so many photos here, but. >> [laughter]. >> you must be roughly around that age. then. And remarkably, I read that after. one training session, they moved you. into the older group and you played with. people 2 years older than you when you. were. 4 5 years old? >> Yeah, I was 5 playing with a 7 years. old. >> Why did they move you into a different. group?
>> I went for the first session and it was. a futsal session, five-a-side. But like. an indoor thing. And uh after that first session, they. told me that like now you need to get on. the grass. And then I think it comes. just. you know, I looked at the other players. and at the. other people that were training with me. and I didn't want to be better than. them. I just wanted to like. >> [snorts]. >> getting getting at them was the same as. getting at my brother that was 5 years. older than me. For me, it was no. different. If I have to beat him up, I.
will beat him up, you know, like 1 v 1, I'm going to go past him. I have to. tackle, I'm going to tackle him. He's. going to tackle me stronger, doesn't. matter. I tackle him again. And and I. was I had no fear and I think that was. the thing that. make me become better and better because. I was never. the best. Like technical ability, yes, I. was good. Was the best? No. Speed, was I. quick? Yeah, I was quite a quick. Was. the the quickest? No. Was the strongest? No. Was the tallest? No. But I had no. fear of anything of that. I had to. sprint with someone that was quicker. than me, I'm going to sprint with him. and I'm going to.
I might not beat him, but I'm going to. get close to that. >> I actually read that you were so. aggressive that referees sometimes asked. your coach at Infesta, Sergio, to sub. you off, otherwise they'd have to send. you off. >> Yeah. I mean, that kind of correlates. with what you were saying there about. fear. >> Yeah. >> You were aggressive. >> I was. That's what I mean, like I had I had no. fear, you know, like I I wouldn't. look at faces or sizes whatsoever and. think like, oh, he's bigger than me, you know, like he's. going to he's going to be stronger than.
me or something. I would get into. any any any ball in any moment in the in. in the game with with no fear at all. And this is probably the best times in. my career. because this one is Infesta, this one is. at Boavista. One I just I stayed. probably a year at Infesta and Boavista. got me straight away. >> There should be a button just down below. here. And if it says subscribe, you're. already subscribed. If it says. subscribe-a, that means you're not yet. And if you're not subscribed, please. could you do us a favor and hit that.
button. It helps the show more than you. know. And according to the algorithm, you're someone that watches our show, but you haven't yet hit that button. Thank you so much. And you moved. quickly, um, up and up and up and up. And that was one of the remarkable. things I noticed when I looked at you. starting playing at 5 years old, getting. promoted to an older team, and then. quickly, almost in all the clubs, you. know, I'm looking at when you were 17. years old and you left Portugal and. moved to Italy to join Novara. >> Yeah. >> And after 3 months there, you were. promoted to the first team. Um, and but then you very quickly joined.
Udinese. >> Yes. >> And at Udinese, you met a guy called. Francesco. I can't pronounce his. surname, but Guidolin? >> Guidolin, yeah. >> He was really really formative in your. career, wasn't he? You were what, 18 18. years old? >> 18 years old, yeah. >> Why was he such an important part of. your career? What did he teach you or. give you at Udinese? >> He was the manager that probably gave me. the basis and the foundation to. be fearless and express myself, you. know, like to get my head out of so many.
things that were going on and as a young. kid that has just made him to step into. the Serie A. And he's like, ooh, I need to [snorts]. Now is the moment I need to show myself. But he was like, you don't you you showed me that you. have the qualities when you were in. second division in Italy. That's why we. bought you. And to be honest, I was on the edge of. coming to Watford on loan. >> Watford? >> Yeah, because the is the same owners. >> Uh. >> And uh. We getting at the edge of the transfer.
window. They just bought me and. obviously they had a big squad with a. lot of players and they were like We. going to send you to Watford. You going. to you going to be there playing for. them. La la la. And I was like, what. have I done? Like I wasn't I wasn't good. enough. And then in the same moment they. called me to go to the hotel back my. stuff cuz it was like last days this. Back my stuff. I was with the with my. girlfriend wife now and she was like uh. Don't worry. We going to we going to go. anywhere else and you going to you going. to succeed. And I said, but why can't I. make it here? Like what what what was.
that I did wrong that like the manager. is like not looking at me the same. that is looking to other players and in. my head was like. Have I done something wrong? I've not. like showed my full potential. Have I. not shown that I'm good enough to be in. this team? And I don't know why in the middle of. all these thought the sporting director. called me again and says, Bruno, you. can't go anymore. The manager wants you. to stay. He says he loved you. He loves. your attitude. He wants you to learn. from him. He wants you to. understand how he wants you to play and.
everything. He says, you might not play. much this season, but he's pretty sure. that you you were the type of player. that will succeed at this club. And then. we had many conversations and I think. when you want a manager for young. players that. very quick will play and will think. like, oh, I'm I'm the guy now. He's. going to and make you understand, stay. calm. I got you, but you're still not there. And he was so good for me. He was like a. father figure, you know, like but not. just for me. If you speak with every.
player that was there at that time, They. knew they were important for him because. they always showed that and that's why. we made me. so much more complete in terms of. understanding the moments and the. process that managers have to go through. their heads and what they think about. players that is better or whatsoever. that you don't understand. Whenever a. manager puts you on the bench, you just. think does he like me? He's He's doing. this because he makes He wants to make. another one play or that's it. But the. way he did it with me and all the. players that were around me at that. time, we were so happy that the.
environment was very very good. >> As a young man when you're this age, you're 18 years old, what are your. dreams? And if I'd asked you at the. time, what does your future look like? What would you have said to me? >> As soon as I I became a professional. player, I I was like I want to be on on. on on the top clubs. I want to play for. for the big clubs. I want to be in the. Champions League. I want to to play for. trophies. I want to. become the players I'm looking at. I. want I want to become like them. >> Did you think you could? >> Yeah. Always. I've never I've never doubt.
>> And at 22, you get a call um and you. return to Portugal and sign a 5-year. deal with Sporting. in a deal worth reportedly 8.5 million. That next season you score 20 goals and. added 13 assists, which is unheard of. unheard of for a player in your. position. And what I read as well is. that Tottenham were interested in you at. that time. Um and it was it was at one point highly. likely that you were going to end up. moving to Tottenham. I'm very glad you. didn't as a Man United fan, but tell me. about that. So Tottenham you call you.
>> Yeah. That's I spoke with Tottenham and. we were very close to get an agreement. done. Um then in the last. two days or one day of market, the. Sporting just said we we're not going to. sell him. We are going to keep him. because we need him. And. >> You wanted to go to Tottenham? >> Yes, because I wanted to play in the. Premier League. >> Why? >> Because for me is the best league in the. world. Is the most competitive one. Is. the one that I think when you grow up, you dream to play for, you know, like. full stadiums,
top clubs, top players. Obviously, I was I was lucky enough. that my dream club to play in England. was Man United, and obviously. Tottenham at the time was the option I. had, and I was very, very happy to join. them because they showed me. the process that they were going. through, the manager that was there at. the time that also really wanted me, all. the new things, the new facilities, and. everything. So, I was very happy with. the. with everything that I could see. going forward. But, it didn't happen,
and for bigger reasons, I I guess. And. then in January, I got I got the call. that I was I was hoping for for. 2 3 years already. >> Tell me about that call. >> [laughter]. >> Cuz I know Manchester United has has. been, you know, in your eye for a long. time. I mean, you I know you grew up. watching people like Cristiano Ronaldo. play for this club. And I think when he. I think when he first played for. Portugal, you were you were a young guy. You were like 8 8 or 10 years old or. something. And he had been a a great. star of Manchester United. But But I. think generally, people of our age.
group, we grew up in the heyday of. Manchester United, the Sir Alex Ferguson. era as well. So, why Manchester United? And can you zoom me in? If I'm a fly on. the wall when you get that phone call. from your agent, I guess, that. Manchester United are in I can see the. smile on your face. >> [laughter]. >> I was. Let's say I was in my wardrobe. I was. getting getting ready to go to bed. We. just had to My wife was just putting. kids My daughter at that time only had. my daughter. to bed. And I get the call from my agent. I knew.
things were going on and everything, but. after what happened with Tottenham, I. didn't want to put my focus on transfer. windows. And I never did it in every. step of my career that I've changed. club. I always said to my agent, whenever it's like. 95% that the club really wants me and is. ready to make an offer, tell me, and then I decide if it's like. the the moment and I want to go. Apart of that, I like just keep me. apart. Keep me apart. I don't want to. know it. I don't want to like to lose. the focus of what I'm doing to something. that I can't control. And after the Tottenham thing, I was.
like even more because obviously I was. basically done and then all of a sudden. last day Sporting just says like guys, oh, they text uh Tottenham and say like, "Ah, we're not going to make it." So, he called me and he said, "Bruno, so you. told me to not speak to you until we had. something. like concrete." Concrete. "But just so you know, they also have agreement already, everything. So, it's just on your side. now to say. yes or no." And I was like like, "Yes or. no to what?" And he said, "Come on, you. have seen the news." I said,
"My agent calls me, guys, Miguel, the news are every day different. Every. day they're going to put a new club that. is interested in me, so I'm not I'm not. going to be focused on that." He said, "Okay, Man United is coming for you. I know I. know this is like what you want. So, just so you know, this is this is the. one that you've been waiting for. So, it's on you now to make a decision." And. then for like. 10 20 seconds, I didn't I didn't said. anything. I I was I was crying, but I. didn't want to talk because you know. like your voice starts going a little. bit.
choky. And then all of a sudden my my. wife gets into the wardrobe and he says, I'm still on the call and then she goes. like, "Why are you crying?" And like him. on the phone say, "Are you crying?". I was like, just I turned that off and I was like, "Miguel just called me." And then in the. moment I'm trying to explain to my wife. what's going on, he's calling me like. repetitively like, "I need an answer.". And I was like and my wife was like, "Why are you crying? So, like this is. like what you have dreamed for. Like. this this is the moment you've you've. waiting for.". And I was like, "Oh,
I don't know. It's I think it's just too. much." Like I I've I've never expected. after everything that happened with. Tottenham, I would have got the chance to come to. the Premier League again. And having the. chance to come to the Premier League. with Man United is. it's it's like 100% of the dream. complete. So, obviously then like I just I just call. him back and I say like I don't even. want to know anything else. Just tell. them I'm going. Obviously I was very. good at Sporting and I was very. happy there because I I really enjoyed.
my time at Sporting because was when I. became. probably the best version of of myself. as a player where I improved so much in. that 2 years and a half. But then was. like the dream of playing for the. Premier League and I think. from every Sporting fan they really. understood that. was was ready for me to to go and do the. next step. >> And when you join Man United here's the. famous photo. of you signing with Manchester United. >> Yeah.
>> It's funny that this this smile that you. still have in your face when you look at. this photo. >> Yeah, it's. because I think when when you look back. as I said like. this is the. the day your dream comes true. So. it's it's probably. professional wise. I think I put this one and Sporting. together because of the importance that. Sporting had in my career. But obviously this. this was the cherry on on top of the. cake because this is where I wanted to. be.
>> And you joined the club at a time when. the club was in a bit of turmoil, struggling. You know, Sir Alex Ferguson. has left and we've cycled through a. bunch of managers and we've got Ole. Gunnar Solskjær as the manager at that. point. I think the club was seventh in. the Premier League when you joined um. and it was going through a time of. turbulence. You knew that Manchester. United wasn't the most stable club in. the world. But you chose to come here. anyway. And based on your record record at. Sporting, you would have had a lot of. other opportunities to join a club that. was more stable. That was you know and.
it's interesting cuz clubs can have a. big impact on a player's future. Players can have a big impact on a club, but it also goes the the other way. And. as someone that runs businesses you know. the environment you join has a huge. impact on everyone's behavior. No No. irrespective of how hard you try. You chose to join a club that was at the. time unstable. >> Look, the the game I looked before I. came here was I think Burnley United. Burnley. and United loses at home.
2-1. I don't remember exactly, but I. know. I know they've lost that game and it was. just like days before I came. And I was like. I I still think there is there is a lot. of potential in that team. And a part of having potential that. team, I'm joining one of the biggest. clubs in the world and. I know that clubs go through periods. where things don't go the way they want. But sometimes it's not just because. they're not great. It's just because. other teams are being better than them. and that's that's fine because in.
football you're not going to win all the. time. But the thing you can do is like you can. bring. your own values, your own experience, your own qualities and trying to help. everyone else around you to become. better, to become. the team you want to see. And I think at that time. that period of. then we had the COVID time and all the. stuff, but that period. from there to the end of the season, the. team was unbelievable and the season. after we got second place. And because we struggled in certain.
moments of keeping keeping up to to the. standard of City that had a very good. end of season, but for me was like I. wasn't like how I would big start. I was. like I'm going to be the. the magic magic powder that's going to. solve all the problems, but. I really knew that this club had. something special and for me to join it. was was like I can be part of something. that. is going to become great again and I. still believe that. And obviously it can. take time. It's taking more time than I.
thought. Yes, of course. But at that time I had too many dreams. in my head and Uh, they still are here. And still a lot of things that I want to. achieve. But this smile and this guy. that came here in 2020 is is is still is. still is still the same guy that wants. to to win and succeed at this club. >> I'm wondering, you know, cuz there's. been so much said about the environment. at Manchester United over the years. I I. know a little bit about the environment. when Sir Alex Ferguson was here because. I interviewed a lot of his players. And. having been to Carrington before and.
actually going to the grounds and. actually sitting in the hospitality. lounge and waitresses coming over to me. and talking about when Sir Alex Ferguson. was here and how he knew everyone's name. and then how it changed. I It was really interesting to me to get. a lot of this feedback because. it highlighted how small things in. culture can have a big impact right down. to the the way players play. And there's. always the story that Gary Neville told. me about with Wendy and her charity. balls. He told me a story of the players. walking past Wendy who got the charity. ball signed for a local charity. And one.
day a couple of them didn't sign it. And. Sir Alex Ferguson came downstairs and. he, quote, "fucking killed us.". And it's it's a strange thing to do like. to care that much about a small detail. in culture. But over time Gary told me. he's he understands why Sir Alex. Ferguson cared so much. So, my question. to you is really about the cultural. evolution at this club and what the fans. are desperate to know about like how. it's changed and how it feels different. from the time you arrived in 2018 up. until today. >> I've brought in my.
behavior, my the way I've been raised. and all these things. And I think every. different player has brought different. things to to the club. But I think one of the things that has. to be always there is the respect for. people. And I think that says for me is. a non-negotiable thing. Like if any. player comes to this club and he doesn't. respect. the physios, the people the stewards, the people that are. in all the desks we have here, the. people that work for us in the. restaurant, the chefs and all these.
people that are around us. taking care of us even if you don't see. it or if you don't think it or whatever. it is. For me is a non-negotiable thing that. the respect has to be always there. And more than respect, the care. You. need to care about them because. if you have a good foundation, a good. base of respect and and care in in your. club, it's going to get better. The. environment gets better. Everything is. more positive because I think and and. this is probably the way I've been. raised, I treat everyone in the same.
way. I don't treat in a way that I don't. treat the clean lady or the people that. are in the front desk or the people that. the stewards and at the entrance, you. know. If I say good morning to these. ones, I say good morning to these ones. I don't change that. If I give a. handshake to these ones, I give a. handshake to these ones. If I greet them. as I'm greeting my teammates, they will. feel part of it. They will feel. involved. They will feel as important as. them. Even knowing that the role of them. is completely different of the other. ones because. the the role of a CEO is one thing.
But if the cleaner doesn't clean. everything nice and leaves everything. prepared and well well done and. everything, you will notice that. something is wrong. You will notice that. this is not the place where you want to. work for. You don't You notice that you. don't want to be the CEO of a company. that has trash everywhere. >> Yeah. >> And so. why wouldn't you greet the person that. takes care of you, takes care of your. place to look so good and to make an. impact when people come in from the. outside? >> It reminds me of something actually Jony. Ive said. So Jony Ive is the famous. Apple designer that designed all the.
Apple products that we know and love. And he said. it's very hard to feel care. He goes, but everyone can feel when someone. didn't care. You go to a restaurant and. they didn't care. Small things. He goes, but it's like he said care is just this. thing in the background, this ambient. feeling you have when you arrive. somewhere. But you can't you can't like point out. exactly what it is, but you can feel it. >> That's the thing. I think is more that. you feel it but you you see it. And I. think. touching this point that was I was. talking about cleaners. My mom was a She.
was cleaning houses for work. So, I never wanted the people that were. cleaning the house to treat my mom badly. or let's say downgrade the work she's. doing for them because for example now I. have a person that works in my house. I don't allow my kids to talk badly to. her. I don't allow my kids to say. grab that and put it in the place. And I said it to her in the first day. she came to work and I said, "If. something is not in the in the right. place, obviously I want you to clean. I. want you to put things in place. I want.
all of this. But I don't want my kids to. tell you. oh, that. uh arrange that or put this in place.". No. If they want something, they can ask. you. But first of all, they need to be. respectful. If they can't make it, they. have to ask you but in the respectful. way. But if it's something that they can. make, you have to make them make it. Not. like. "Oh, you do it." No, just explain them. how to do it. Show them the way so they. learn with it. And this probably. the way I behave with the people that. work with me it comes a lot because of.
my background of not like it to see my. mom. because I was not in the house as. obviously I don't know if they treated. well or not. My mom never said to me. that any of the people that she worked. for were. bad bad to her or treat her in a in a. bad way. So, I really think that that. made me understand that because I I. don't want that for my mom, I won't make. that to other people. >> I've been a Man United fan since I was a. kid. So, like my siblings were born in. Manchester. I was saying to you before I. was born in um. in Botswana in Africa, but because I've.
got two older brothers who are Man. United fans, I very quickly became a. Manchester United fan. I remember like 3. 4 years old. And then as soon as I could. when I was 18, I moved up from the. Southwest to Manchester at 18 years old. and I lived here and went to my first. Manchester United games. I've seen the. club go on this incredible journey. um from you know, Sir Alex Ferguson's. era to this sort of period of transition. to where we are now. And it's my. observation, my honest observation, that. after in the post-Fergie era, the club. made some bad decisions as it relates to.
recruitment and culture. Um people often talk about um Ed. Woodward's I'm not going to I'm not. going to try and stitch you up in any. way or get you to talk about anything in. particular. I'm just expressing my. opinion. They talk about Ed Woodward's. uh strategy towards signing players and. it being a bit flippant. And then you. look [snorts] at the the sort of group. of lads that we had. And just as a. United fan watching on the pitch, I felt. the culture was a bit confused. because it didn't seem like it seems. now, where it seems like there's this. really strong central agreement around. the values. It felt a bit.
I don't know, a bit like we'd signed. players because they. were famous or big, but not because they. fit. And I feel like when I look at the. club now, I go, "Oh, these guys kind of. fit." And whoever's doing recruiting is. thinking about character. It feels to me like there's been this. process over the last couple of years of. getting rid of the wrong character. profiles. And I think how Amorim really. spoke to this. He really talked about. getting rid of the players that didn't. have the right character profile. Just. to add one more line to this, I've. spoken to a lot of players at the club.
in past and present, and they expressed. the same to me as well, that there was. an issue with sort of character profile. that has now been. solved for. I think the main mistake. that the club has done through the years. and that we've changed manager to. manager, they were very different. And. that's already a bad sign. not of recruitment because then you. bring in players that fit that manager. >> Mhm. >> But the next one you brought plays a. completely different way. And the three or four or five that you.
bought don't fit this one anymore. And then you have to buy another four or. five. >> Mhm. >> And then the constantly change of. strategy in in in the club or in the way. we wanted to play or whatsoever was not. was not the best because then obviously. it becomes that the players don't suit. anymore the system. It's not even more. the character than it comes up. It's. more the system. Then obviously, we can. talk about character. There players that. were certain players that were not. a perfect fit for the club, but you. never know it until you bring it to the.
club. I think sometimes you can see it. And I think is there players that I. think the club. by the behavior they have on the pitch. or the behavior they have on on social. media whatsoever, you can see if they. would be a fit for the club or not. And. I think the main thing for the club, as. you said there, you need to bring good characters. Because that will be more important to. build something that good qualities. Because good qualities they all. they will have. You don't bring a player to Man United. that doesn't have qualities. But if you can add the qualities to the. character, that's a win-win. Because the.
qualities will be moments that the. quality won't be as good as you want. because players go through periods that. sometimes they play very good, sometimes. they play very bad. But the character. remains the same. And that's the. character you want where they are on a. low. to be the right character to push. himself to be on a high or at the same. time when they are on a low to be the. right character to push the other ones. to be. at at the top level. And I think that's. the main thing that the club has to do. in terms of recruitment and everything. is bringing people first of all that.
want to be a Man United to play for Man. United. Not to be a Man United just. because it's a big club. They want to be. here because this is the club they think. and they really understand that they. want to succeed with this club. They. want to bring this club back to the days. we were used to see Man United. I know. it's been 12, 13 years. I know, but we. want that to get as short as possible to. become that club that won 20 Premier. League titles and is joint the most in. the Premier League. >> Mhm. >> So, character in a football club is more.
important than the quality. Because the. quality you're always going to get it. and you can improve it. >> This is what I heard from Patrice Evra. I remember him telling me that he met. Sir Alex Ferguson in in an airport, I. think in France. And Sir Alex Ferguson. sat him down and said, "Are you willing. to die for Manchester United?" And he. said, "Yes." And so he shook his hand. He said, "Welcome to Manchester United.". And that's a different way of. recruiting. He's not testing if he can. kick a ball well. He's testing if he's. got the heart and that mentality. that I think Fergie and previous sort of. cohorts of Manchester United really.
really cared about. >> I think Sir Alex, obviously he's done. mistakes in recruitment, too, because. obviously not every player was great, but. he always brings players in anytime and. any moment they would fit the club. And. that's the main thing, I think, in terms. of recruitment. But this is like. something that is not for me to get. involved, but I will say it. I understand the club as different. manager comes in in comes in and. different ways of playing and. whatsoever, but the recruitment has to. be for Man United because the player. will get normally a 5-years contract.
And the manager will get, too. And you. know that if he's not something is not. working, the club always gets rid of the. manager first, then he gets rid of the. player because it's much more difficult. So, I think you always have to bring. players that fit the club. And then you. bring managers that fit the club and the. players you've got. And I think that has. to be the the the thing that For. example, let's talk about Klopp and Pep. Why they were so successful? Because. they chose the players. and together with the club that will fit.
the club, the system, and the way they. wanted to play. And through the years, have they done. mistakes, of course? Have they bought. players that didn't work? Yes. I think. were more the ones that worked than the. ones that didn't. And the ones that. didn't work, I haven't seen many of them coming out. and talking bad about the club or about. the manager whatsoever. Yeah, it's. difficult to be there and a club buy you. for 50, 60, 70 million and then you. don't play. When you thought, "Oh, oh, I'm going to play because they're paying. this amount of money for me. I'm going. to play." Then you get there, you don't. play. Of course, it's difficult. But.
what I've seen is that. they built in a way that the squad was. strong enough to take care of those. players that were not playing and were. struggling. >> One of the things I've noticed as a. change, especially this season, is all. this social media. distraction, people posting on their. Instagram stories when they don't play, their brother, sister posting, "My. brother should be playing." Whatever. All of this sort of like social media. stuff that some players were doing over. the last couple of years seems to have. vanished. And this is just an interesting, you.
know, we talk about small things being. interesting signals. So, one of the. things I've noticed this year there. isn't social media nonsense going on. How What Like. I guess my question is, is that. something the club has done? Has there. been Have they sat you down and said, "Stop the social media stuff." Or is it. just a consequence of getting the right. people together? >> I think it's a little bit both, but at. the same time I think the club has to be. the one being strong with the players. When they see something that is not. right or they don't like it or it's not. good on the players, on on the team, on.
the attention this club gets, I think. the the club needs to talk with them and. with the agents, with the families, whatsoever that speaks out and says. something because. I think it's also on the players to make. the families and. everyone that is behind them understand. that what they put out or what they say. can have consequences on our careers. >> Do you Do you talk to the players about. this? >> I If If I see something that I don't. like or if I see them posting or. replying to some people on social.
whatsoever because, for example, from. such a young age. I said to my parents I said to my. brother I said to my sister, "I don't. want you talking without my like without. me knowing it." Not because they don't. know how to talk or whatever, but. they're not aware of what can be bad or. wrong. They They might think they were. going to say something that is going to. be good for me, but maybe has. repercussions on other people and I. don't want them to do that. So, my. parents never spoke, my brother never. spoke, my sister never spoke when I. wasn't playing. Let people make noise.
Let people talk. Doesn't matter what. they say. I know for my mom, for example, that she. suffers a lot with this and I say, "Take it in. Don't care. Pray at Pray at your saints like you did. to me all the time. And And make sure. they do the right thing for me cuz. that's That's what matters." And she She. kind of kind of like gets. okay with that. Obviously, I know that. probably when my brother sees something. or my sister, they want to reply to. something. They want to say it's not. true. Why Why are you talking about this. or my my brother, whatever. I don't want.
them to get involved in that because. it's not going to be good for them. Not. going to be good for me and it's not. going to be good for my environment and. I don't want that. But I think that is. because I was strong with my family in. the In the first moment. And I think. that's what you have to be. I don't go. home to my family and saying like, "Oh, you know, this manager did this. This. manager did that." I might say what I. like or I don't like, whatever, but I. don't go in a way of like, "Oh, [sighs] if I had someone that could. put something out because I've been. doing this I mean I don't care like to. people to put out Oh, Bruno's training.
so well. Bruno is doing this. Bruno is. doing that." I know I'm doing it. That's. enough for me. >> Mhm. And it's true because, you know, you've. been through this this process of. transition with Ole, then Carrick, then. Ralf, then Erik, then Ruben, then. Fletcher, then Carrick again. And. actually one of the remarkable things is. I've never noticed. your attitude towards the managers. be any different. I can't tell. I can't. tell. As far as I'm aware, you support. them all. And that's how it should be, I think. If.
you've got a problem, I think as, you. know, player you should go tell them, but we shouldn't know. You know, [laughter] and Well, we don't. know. With you, I don't know what you. think of them. >> I agree with that. Because First of all, I like every manager that comes in my. way because I learn with them. And every. manager that comes in has. their own idea, has their own thinking, has their own way of playing and they. want me to do one thing, the other one. another thing, the other one another. thing. And for me that's good because. they believe that I'm capable of doing.
different things that I was doing. before. So, what I won't give to the managers is. the choice or the option in their head. to think I'm not going to play Bruno. >> What do you do when you're not happy. about something though? As the captain, do you go have a chat with them? >> No, I do whatever they want me to do. If. they think it's the best thing for the. team, I'm going to do it. Either I. agree or not, believe it more or not, I. make myself. available for what they want to do 100%. If you then it works or not, that's on.
them to. to decide to decide that if it needs to. be changed or not. I'm not going to go. to the manager and ask them to change. formation, the way they play. If they. ask me, I give my opinion. If they don't ask me, I don't say. anything. >> What have you learned about what a good. manager does and how to be a good. manager from the six managers. you've had? >> For me, look, it through my career, I've. always heard that, you know, like. certain players should be treated in a. different way than other players.
I don't believe in that. It's like the. same as having a business. You buy certain people to do certain. things because you believe they. the right person to do that. So, I don't think. that you then should change the way you. behave with them. You should probably. approach them in different ways. I believe in that because I'm not the. same as you. >> Yeah. Should you treat players differently on. the pitch? Cuz you're you you know, you. shout at lots of your teammates. Are. there some that you won't shout at as.
much? >> I treat I treat all of them the same and. I think they're kind of getting. to know exactly why I do it. Everything. that we're training in the Imagine, let's see, during the week we train this and we. have seen images of this, we know what. we have to do. The manager has prepared. for that us for that. I demand that at least. I don't I don't care who you are. We've. been a full week preparing the training, the game for this. This we need to know. how to do it. Then if you can make a. pass or you can make a goal or you can.
make a tackle, that's different. That's. the qualities I need from each one. individually. But. I've learned to talk with them in. different ways. But. with the same end result. Not like I. won't like go to one and say like being. scared of saying things to him. And the. other one like because he's younger. whatsoever, I'm going to like shout at. him whatsoever. No, if I have to shout. at this one, I will shout at this one. If I have to shout at this one, I will. shout at this one. If I have to praise. this one, I will praise this one in the.
same way I praise this one. And I think. that you can see in my interviews. I'm. not afraid of saying what I feel. At the. same time, I'm not afraid of praising. players for what they have done or what. they're doing even if they. probably in the moment they did. they haven't done as much as they needed. to get the praise. But for me, I think he needs that praise. to get into the next level. So, I'm. going to give him something, but. I make him aware. I've gave you. something, but I'm expecting something. more from you. It's like my dad.
giving me like, you need to be better, you need to do more. because he knows I'm capable of more. And this is why I demand from the. players. I demand I'm I'm I'm very. strong on them because. I I really believe in them. I have said. this so many times to so many different. players. It's like trust me, the day I. stop talking to you, the day I stop. shouting I stop shouting at you. is because I don't believe in you. anymore and I don't believe you can. improve anymore. >> Your time at Manchester United's been a. bit of a roller coaster like this. Kind. of like up and down and up and down. You.
went second and then you dropped down. the league to second. And I mean, the. last 2 years have been a prime example. of that, finishing near the near the. bottom end of the table and then this. year back up to third. I'm wondering as. a fan, when things get bad and you hear. all these sort of rumors breaking online. that the manager is going going sacked, does that impact. the dressing room? Like, do you guys in. the dressing room. because you've been through it so many. times where a manager has been removed, do you How what's that like when you. know things are going bad? >> Well, first of all, you feel it for the.
manager. It's the It's the first thing. because I think obviously certain. players will feel it more than others. because there's some players that play. more than others and they obviously the. ones that probably don't play. they don't like to see managers going, but at the same time, if a new manager. comes here, it's a new opportunity for. them to probably get into the team more. times than they were getting before. And. I think going through the process of. changing managers probably the worst. thing in in in in sports because. it's starting from zero again. And they. either people believe it or not, when.
you're through a process. you want to get to the end of the. process and understanding what's. what that has gave to you as a player. and what you can do more with that. stuff, with that team, and with that. manager to go even further more. >> Why didn't you lose hope? Because you went through that process of. starting from zero, making progress, manager goes, back to zero, making. progress, manager goes, back to zero. >> You know why? Because every time I've. spoke this with Diogo before. Every time we come for pre-season.
it's like. a new start. And you always get that. belief of like this is going to be the. this is going to be the time. This is. going to be the time. It's moments. through the season that you. you get this belief that things are not. going well. But the main thing I have is belief in. myself. So, I always think. if I do things right and I take people. to do things right and I help them to do. things right as a team. we still have a chance of pushing. ourselves into positions we want to be.
And this let's say this season has been. that case because. we stru we struggle. Obviously, we. didn't change manager because of results. because we were. two points behind second place. and like. five points behind. first place. We were. same points till I think from third to. seventh place was everyone with the same. points, something like that. So, we were. we were there. Was something different with the with. the club that they felt that the the. trust between them was was broke or. whatsoever and they.
kind of. decided to start a new process. And that was bad because for us when. Ruben came what was passed from the club. is like this is going to be a process. but we're going to go through this, going to be good and bad times but we're. going to go through this. Obviously, then the club decided that it. was time to part ways and you started. from zero from from with Michael. But then. you've got results. and you went to the end of the season. and you finished third. And you finished what.
doing probably in the time Michael was. here till the end of the season till. till now is we probably the team that. has made more points. >> What did Michael change? >> I think in in the first moment what what. what Michael tried to do is like to give. stability to the team because as every. manager understands when you come in. after. a break. you understand that. you need to give stability and. peace of mind to the players to. get back to the level. he thought we could have. And he brought the foundation and the.
base that has been in this club. uh from the time he played till the time. he managed. and then he left. So, he knows he knows. the club, he knows how the club wants to. play. and he knows what the fans want to see. >> How is he different? Like what's what. tactically or from a character. perspective. what does Michael bring as a manager? I. know as you know, just an hour ago or so. it was announced that he's going to be. the Manchester United manager going. forward um which is great news. Um but what what is if you had to.
describe him to me as a leader and a. manager, what how is he different? >> I think he's a very. he gives you a lot of calmness, you. know, in terms of. what you want from the team, the way he. demands, the way he coaches. He gives you He gives you a good way of. going to the game with with a good peace. of mind. But, with a lot of responsibility. because I think from the time he was. here with Sir Alex, he gave a lot of. responsibility to the players to make. decisions and to make choices on the. pitch that have to be on you. He gives.
you the base, he gives you the. foundation, he gives you certain rules. that is like the non-negotiable ones. But, then he also knows and he wants us. to take some responsibility to the game. that things might change because you. prepare a game full week, obviously, but. then the team could come and. do a different thing. Like, you prepare. to play against the 4-3-3 because they. always played 4-3-3 and then they come. and they play 3-5-2. And then you go. like, "Oh, and now?" The manager can't. can't be on the sideline telling you. where to press, where to go. So, as a.
player as a players have the foundation, have the base, have the rules. non-negotiables, and from there on we. need to find a way of like, "Okay, let's imagine we can press because. they've changed everything and the press. we prepared was not was not the one we. needed. Let's get compact. Let's get together. They don't get into our block. When we. have the ball, we play with the ball. We. get into the off time and then the. manager will give us the message he. wants to give or whatever he has seen. that we need to do differently in a way. of getting a better result from the from. the pressure. And I think that's what he.
gave to us the calmness and the way he. prepares games was very good. But, when. things were not going in the way we. wanted, he gave responsibility to the. players to like make it work, then we. solve it. >> Ah, so like a bit of freedom to. >> It's not exactly freedom because freedom. is a different thing. It's like he gives. you freedom with the ball to make. decisions because he says, "That's your. responsibility on the ball. I can't tell. you where to pass the ball. I can't tell. you where to shoot. I can help you where. the space is going going And I think.
that the most important thing for a. player is knowing where space is going. to be. You need to know where spaces are. to then play with it. You know that they. have big gaps there that we can hurt. them from there. And this is the message. that Michael has passed to the team. Like if we attack from here, they have. less people on this side. We can bring. more people in the box from this side. We want a very good counter press. because they have two strikers, so we. need to have three people in in the. back. Two of them mark, one of them. stays behind. So, these are the small. things in the foundation that he gives. to us. But then he he says many times.
I can't tell you where to pass. I can't. tell you where to shoot. I give you the. solutions, but might not be there. So, you have to find a way of making the. good pass, the good shot, the good. decision cuz I'm not going to be in your. head. in that moment. My in your head it's. going to be the ideas I gave you. And. some of them will be good, some of them. will won't won't work out. So, you have. to make a way of like understand the. good ones I gave you and the other ones. that are not working well, you need to. find a way of make it work. >> So, it's more just he gives you.
>> principles uh instead of specific. instructions on how to play and what to. do. >> Kind of gives you, but then he lets you. balance through the game. >> Okay. >> He lets let's say. he lets the players read the game. because. in 90 minutes many things happen and not. going to always happen what you see in. the video. Hopefully, yes, but not. always. For example, let's say. we had the chance against um. Nottingham Forest that I passed the ball.
through Brennan and he scores. We have. seen the same chance. from Villa against Forest. The exact same chance, exact same. movements, exact same passes. And we've seen that. We visualized that. And that's why that works. because we had the ideas, we knew we. could make that happen, and we made it. >> Hm. Does he get angry? Cuz he seems like. such a calm guy. When you see him in. press conferences, he's very calm and. very you know. >> Yeah, it did it did did get angry one. once or twice, but he's very calm in the.
way he speaks. But I think I think everyone gets angry. anyway, but. he's a very calm presence and he's he's. he's someone that speaks very well. Knows the timing, the words, he knows. what to say. Um and whenever he got when he let's get. let's say. more aggressive within us was was the. time that we needed to to get that from. him. >> And the way that you play is interesting. cuz it when I was looking at. a bunch of your quotes over time, but. also how I think about business, you are.
a player that takes more risks than most. people. And we talk a lot about failure in. business and how you have to increase. your rate of failure to to to get better. outcomes, but you're a player that is. not shy of taking a risk. And you play in a way where you you. sometimes lose the ball, but you also, as we've seen this year and in many. other years, you often are generating. more opportunities than any other player. on the pitch. How do you think about. this? Because. the way you play means that sometimes. you're going to make a lot of mistakes. You're going to lose the ball more so. than other players. I'd argue even more. so than some of the previous midfielders.
we've had like Carrick who would often. choose a more safe option than trying to. play it through a thin gap. What's your attitude towards risk? >> I think it's always risk reward, you. know, you you need to understand how. much reward you're going to get from. that. Um and if taking that risk is good for. the team or not. Let's say the position. I play, you need that. It has to be one of your main skills to. take risks, to do things. that. the game demands from you.
and to make sure that your team. teammates in the front get the ball in. the positions. that it's going to be. the rate of success for them to score a. goal is going to be higher. I might miss two or three times, but if I get one right, that can become a goal for us. I think [clears throat] there's nothing. better than a risk reward that is a. goal. So, I think when you play as a number 10. position, obviously, you don't want to. lose the ball. You have you have to make.
that as less as possible. But, in certain positions, you lose the. ball more often than others. Wingers will lose the more the ball on 1. V 1s. than midfielders do. Fullbacks will do normally more crosses. than center backs will do. Number sixes will make more tackles than. a striker will do. So, is a balance in. the team that you need to have. Let's. imagine I played with. Kobe and Casemiro. They not the risk player. So,
if I take four times, let's say. a risky pass and they take one each, that's six times a game. So, I need to be the one that takes four. They need to be the ones that take one. one each because. the responsibility they have in the team. is the one that they make the team play. from the build up, push the team forward. to then get the ball into the place that. have to take the risks. Because. [clears throat]. if you don't have the players that take. the risks, you going to end up.
bubbling. And we talk like, for example, let's say. Man City. That is a team that's that. let's say Guardiola tiki-taka all these. things. De Bruyne was the player that take the. risks. Charity is not the player that take the. risks. Phil Foden, Doku, Mahrez will be the ones that taking the. risks on a 1 V 1. >> Has a manager ever told you to take less. risks? >> Eric told me to take less shots. >> Less shots? >> From the outside of the box. He showed. me a a board with my success rating of.
shots on target, shots off target, and. goals. He showed me the positions where I was. more effective. And he told me, I think you need to get. more into these positions to then make a. shot. >> Into what positions? >> Let's say. close to the box, like in in the. position where will see the box. and you would say like more towards. left-hand side, you score more goals. More towards the right-hand side, your. you aim more to goal. Towards the middle. of the of of the of the edge of the box,
you miss more shots. So, it was like get. more into the left side or get more into. the right side or close range, long. range. So, but then obviously is is is we come back. to the risk and reward. Cuz sometimes. obviously you're going to score a great. goal from 25 yards out. >> Mhm. >> [clears throat]. >> But how many times you're going to do. it? Out of five, you maybe score one and. it's a lot already. So, I need to make that risk become less. and less and less. Getting more risk.
probably from 18 yards. because there the possibility of me. scoring a goal it might be. three in five. because I'm much more closer. I can put. more power on the ball. I can be much. more effective. >> I've spent a lot of time building and. investing in companies. And so often the. conversation around marketing budgets. follows the exact same pattern. The. budget gets approved, but then the. results don't come back. And most of the. time, the creative pitch and the offer. is fine. The problem lies with the. audience. Ads reach people who will.
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where is it that you you like to play. the most? I think. >> the positions where I can be more. effective is this square, let's say. Yeah. I would say let's Let's put it like. this. >> Okay. >> Yeah, no, I just just need a square. >> Oh, you just need a square. >> This is, let's say, imagine we are. attacking this side. This This is the spaces where I think I. can be more effective. In this square. here. >> And different managers asked you to play. in different positions within here?
>> Because, for example, uh let's say let's put the. With Ruben, he used to play. three at the back, one wing back, two midfielders, another wing back, and striker and. two tens. With Ruben, I played a lot of times. here. In this position when he first came, and. he wanted me and and in this position, these two. More more more than often, he wanted me.
to be one of these two to help here. To help these two midfielders to build. up and to get this guy higher in the. position when he can be in the last line. and to get the ball into these two. >> So, what position would you call that? Like left? >> If this was the left 10, let's say, but. he wanted me to play more like as a left. midfielder. to help them to like first of all to. have more stability in the middle. Second, to get the ball going forward. To take the risk of passing the ball. forward. Then, I played a lot of times.
here. >> What we're going to do is we're going to. make you unfortunately we're going to. make you blue just so we can see which. one you are. >> Okay. Okay. >> So, in this one, when I played here, many. times he wanted me here. because they were pressing, let's say, three against three. And he wanted me to come and do the. overload, so we had one more player to. build up. So, they will open up these. ones a little bit more, get this one. more expensive. Normally, it was Luke. Shaw then as a full back he was used to. playing this space. And so then, we. could drive the ball and they couldn't.
press with the three they had. They. wouldn't be able to press because we. always had this one also to bounce the. ball. Then, whenever we go up the pitch. with the ball, he wanted me here. >> Ruben did? >> Yeah. He wanted me to play more. a little bit more higher to be one of. the three tens and make this line of the. three tens. Then, for example, with the. Ole, I was playing. we would. play like 4-2-3-1. and I would be the number 10 and he. wanted me to do this.
>> Okay. Go across. >> And sometimes you wanted me to do this. And get the ball here. Or here to make the long passes and to. make the switches to the to the wingers. I think. this bit here in the middle is where I'm. more. against I I think we all can see the. best version of Bruno. If you ask me. where I prefer to play, anywhere on the. pitch. I think for the way we play, this is the. position where I I can I can be more.
effective. But I think I really enjoy to. play here because I really enjoy to get. the team to play. And if you. I played many times with. Ten Hag like this. >> Mhm. >> I was the number six playing with two. eights. And I really enjoyed to play. here. And it make make myself being different. a different player, more aggressive off. the ball, someone that has to cover. spaces for these ones. >> Regardless of where you are on the. pitch, what which can change? What is.
non-negotiable in terms of how you play? >> Commitment. That's that's non-negotiable like the. commitment I have. for what we have to do. It doesn't. change by. me liking the position or not, me. preferring one position or the other. Um. that that won't change. I think. running, fighting, and team spirit can never miss. >> It doesn't appear to me that you ever. get tired. And also one remarkable thing.
about you is you don't seem to ever get. injured. >> I get tired. And I got injured. unfortunately. Oh. >> But how how how does that happen? Cuz I. I watch you run to the beat the 89th. minute and you're running up and down. still. Is that genetic or is that. something you do in training? What is. that? >> I think obviously I have I have to say. that I have good genetics, but. um. is. I I was talking with Diogo about this. the other day also in and in the. nutritionist about like genetics, how. how how you how you treat yourself and. everything. Uh but then then at the same.
time I said to them, "You know what's. different on me than the other ones? Cuz. I always train at 100%. I make the. training as a game. I don't care. I go. full. And if I I I don't feel good, I I. I need to make some extras. If I feel. that the training wasn't like enough, let's do something else. Let's do some. shots. Let's do some crosses or someone. Let's do something that can make me go. out of training and feeling like I'm. tired.". >> Why is that important? >> Because I think in the game you need to. get tired. And then, you know, like for. example, when you are when I'm training.
shooting practice or last third passes, I rather train that when I'm tired. Because going to be. the last 20 minutes of the game, your brain is not going to work in the. same way it was working in the beginning. because you get tired and you get to. think slower a little bit. So, you need. to be able to train your body and your. brain when they are tired. And I think. if you do that in training, when you get. to the game and you can start getting. tired, your brain is used to that also. Your body is used to be tired and it. knows how to react into into that.
moment. >> These core principles that have been. central to how you play have led you to. being given this, the captain's armband, which was quite There was lots of talk. of it at the time because Maguire was. the captain before you. And it's quite. typic atypical for the captain to be. displaced while they're still at the. club and for someone else to be brought. in. And as fans from the outside, we. wonder how Maguire takes that, how Harry. reacts to that, but also what that means. to you to become captain of uh. your dream club.
>> No, obviously, for me was was a strange. time cuz I wasn't not expecting, you. know, uh Ten Hag called me to his office. to speak with me. and to ask me if I wanted to be the. captain of the club cuz he had decided. to change the captain and he wanted me. to be to be the one to lead the team. from now on. Uh obviously, first thought was like. very grateful. I'm I think something that I've never. dreamed about, you know, like you you. can have many dreams, but you don't.
dream about being the captain, you know, like of your club. And I think the second thought was like. this is going to be tough on Ari. And. the first person that I spoke with after. I got out of that was Ari. Because he knew already. I think the. manager spoke to him. And before I said. yes, I went to speak with him. Um, because the the manager basically. made to me the question if I wanted also. that. Like he didn't said like you're. going to be the captain, that's it, point. He asked me. And I went to speak with Ari. And the. first question I made to was if he was.
leaving the club. Because obviously, as you said, it's not. something. normal. I've never been through this in. in my whole career. And I spoke with him about that the. offer that they gave it to me. And to be. honest to him, and he said he said like. if there's someone that that deserves. that is you. And I'm I'm very very happy. that it's. is you getting the captain armband that. if if if I have to take care of of. myself, I think you really deserve that. And I. think that was.
the point that made me understand I was. doing things right, you know. Uh, obviously, I know. for him was very difficult. And I don't. think he would have said something bad. even if he felt it. uh, to me. But the way we spoke and the. way I think I've been treating him. through these years also in the same way. of like I said straight away to him like. you might have lost the armband, but. you're still one of our leaders. And. that won't change. Everything that. we've been through because Ari when he. was the captain, we always made.
decisions together also because I was. one of them. And that hasn't changed now because. every time I have to do or take some. decisions for the team, I speak with. certain players. And Harry is one of. them that is always there. >> And your performance this season speaks. for itself. You've won. >> [snorts]. >> You've You've done 34 appearances, which. I think is an achievement in and of. itself cuz a lot of players aren't that. consistent on the pitch. Um you've. scored eight goals, 20 assists. You've. got 12 player of the match awards, which. is the most by any player in the Premier. League. Six player of the month awards,
and only Sergio Agüero, Harry Kane, and. Mohamed Salah have more. All of them. have seven. Uh and you've also won some. Matt Busby's Player of the Year award. for the fifth time, the most by any. other Man United player. And this That's. an award voted by the fans. And there's. other awards that I know you've won uh. in recent times. I saw you on stage the. other day winning more awards. What has. What's happened? What Why Why are you. sudden You know, you've had You've been. consistent throughout the whole time. since you've been at the club, but this. year seems to stand out for some reason. >> No, I think.
I think for this season, first of all, I. think when the team shines, the. individual comes up. And I think this season has been much. better from the last, let's say, two. seasons. At the same time, uh I think. the assists record and all this is going. around made made me having a lot of. headlines and and and and stuff like. that. Obviously, it's it's an. achievement that hasn't been done for. any players. Just. Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry. So, >> We've got the little graph here. It. says, "Yeah, Kevin De Bruyne Thierry." I.
actually spoke to to Thierry about this. as well, and he sends his regards to. you. Congratulates you on uh. joining him up there um with with the. record. >> Yeah, it's it's something like that I'm. very grateful for. You know, like we I. put him I put my name in this in this. case with them. Up there is something something that. I've never dreamed about or thought. about. I like I probably start thinking. about that when I got probably into 16, 17 assists. I was like, "Ooh, >> [clears throat]. >> I'm I'm actually getting closer now." Uh.
but it was not something that was in my. head because in my head is always. improving my last season. and getting better numbers, better. outputs, better performance. Uh and it. never in my mind that I would go to. 18, 19, 20 or whatsoever. But obviously when you start getting. close you start thinking about it a. little bit. >> And then all of us as fans start. watching the games to see if you can do. it. >> then and then obviously I think. I've been very consistent in terms of. performance during my six years here.
But. probably other years were people that. stand out that more than me and that's. why I probably didn't got as much. attention as I did this season. >> With being captain and with being at the. biggest club in the world, I think in. terms of fan base, with that comes pressure and. responsibility. The world talks about. you. You know, no matter what industry you're in, an. occupational hazard of being at the very. very top or the peak of your powers or. being even better is more and more talk. And you know, I think especially because.
of this. people are talking even more about Bruno. Fernandes than I've ever seen. You know, my group chat, I've got my United group. chat and we're watching the game, we're. watching we're willing you to we were. willing you to reach this record which. you did. And now because you're you. know, people are saying you're the. player of the year in the Premier. League, they're they're giving you all. these big awards. With that comes even. more criticism and I think this is where. your childhood has prepared you. >> Yeah. >> But [laughter] your dad sounds like your. dad prepared you. I wanted to I wanted. to clear something up because it was on. my mind. and I imagine it's frustrating for you.
which is when your words are twisted in. the media. And recently Roy Keane. criticized your mentality based on a. quote he got completely backwards. He. claimed he said I should have shot but I. made the passes and used that to suggest. that you were chasing individual assist. stats. But everyone who actually. listened to the interview including. myself knows you said almost the exact. opposite. You were being self-critical. of yourself and saying you should have. passed the ball instead of shot because. you wanted the best for your team. And. so interestingly because I've spoken to. so many of your your players, your you.
know, your teammates over the last. couple of days about you, they They told. me that this is the exact opposite of. your mentality on the pitch and off the. pitch. And I know it must be frustrating. for you your leadership style to be sort. of misrepresented in that way. Uh how how how do you respond to that? Like how do you deal with that when you. hear it and you go that's not what I. said? >> Yeah, to be honest like I've always said. I don't mind criticism. I've always take. criticism from everyone and anyone and I. never replied to anything or whatsoever. People have an opinion, they think it's.
good, bad, whatever. What I don't like was when people lie. about things. And this case that you. said about Roy Keane basically I said is. a lie because you can. either either you saw some other. interview or you can't say that I said. one thing that I've just not said. And. luckily for me is everything on record. Imagine if it wasn't like then people. will think like oh yeah, Bruno is is the. guy always trying to get the assist. But one thing that is consistent is my. number of creation is always the same. So it's not that I've been trying to.
reach this now. No, I've been creating. chances since I came to the Premier. League. Probably more than anyone else. So yes, it changed that. My type of. player aim of play or way of playing. hasn't changed since I think to the. Premier League. It's not that this. season probably Roy Keane saw someone. like Bruno creating more because he. wanted the assist record. No, he's. seeing the same Bruno that is about. risky reward, is about creating chances. for his teammates, is about getting the. best out of the other ones because. the thing is like you will get. criticized anyway. If you say if you.
were scoring goals, you will get. criticized because you're not passing. the ball and you're shooting. If you if. you if you doing assists, it's because. you're passing too much and you're not. shooting to score goals. So it's going. to always be like that. People will. always make the the the balance the way. they want. They won't balance thing, they will put it the way they want to. the things to be. And obviously I think. I've always showed a lot of respect for. for Roy Keane and for everything he's. done for the club and for everything. he's is. is. is always said. I've never ever had. something to say. I've never said.
something wrong. I even asked Ole his. number to text him to be honest to to to. have a word with him to say like. that I don't mind the criticism. I don't. like when people lie about things that I. say because this [clears throat] is like. goes a little bit over the top of the. things that I think are acceptable. I. accept the criticism. I accept that he. can say things that I don't like and I. don't like to see it, but as I said. before that improves me. Uh what I don't like is that people. make their own words on what I say and.
it's not true. He can criticism. criticizing me, killing me, say that I'm. not good enough, that I'm not a good. captain for him, that I'm not a good. player for the club, whatsoever. It's. bad is is okay. I don't mind. Is it up. is your opinion? I like it? No, obviously I prefer Roy Keane to. give me some praise sometimes because I. have achieved something that not many. players have achieved. I understand that. this club is about winning trophies. I've never take that off my mind. I've. always said in front of everyone that I. want to win the Premier League and the. Champions League. I never said I wanted. to be the best player player in the.
Premier League. Never never one time any. any person has heard that Bruno wanted. to. get the assist record or get the goals. record or get the player of the season. or get the. um being better than anyone else. No, Bruno wants the club to be successful. Bruno wants the club to win trophies and. that's all Bruno wants. I accept his. criticism. I accept that he he might. likes me like me as a player or not, likes me as a person or not, but what I. don't like is that he puts words in my. mouth that has not been said. That's the.
only thing I don't like. >> Well, I am I I did actually ask your. your teammates. what you were like. And I asked them on and off camera, on. and off the record. I couldn't get some of them to be very. serious, but um. what I what I received is lots and lots. of voice notes from lots and lots of. your your former players. I text around. last night. And I'll play you what they. said. >> My friend Bruno. taking this opportunity.
to spread some love to you. I just. wanted to take this opportunity to tell. you. how much we value. you as a player and as a person. I think. not many people get to see how are you. after the games and. uh outside of the pitch. So, I would say. that's one of your best qualities, the. way you care, the way you. one of the first to help everyone, leadership, your consistency. That's something that I take from from. example and you know it.
It's been a lot of years together right. now. So, hopefully this this can. continue and we can win so many things. and so much much more things together. >> Skipper, so. for me you're a world-class footballer, consistently world-class as well, um which is which is very difficult. I. think everyone knows that how good you. are. But I think more importantly from. from my view is how you are as a human. being and that's the side that not many. people get to see.
You know, the caring, compassionate, supporting, demanding at the right. times. But yeah, I think for me that. that is by far and away probably your. best quality. It's why you're the the. leader of this team and and such a good. human being. So, for me proud to call. you the captain, but more importantly a. friend, so top class. >> I mean, what he does on the pitch. obviously speaks for itself, but. I mean, away from football he's he's an. unbelievable human being. The way he. treats people, looks after people, the way he lifts others when they need.
it. And I feel like the respect he gives. everyone around him that says. everything about his his character. And. I feel like I've been lucky to spend a. number of years with him and. he's one of them people that you. you kind of appreciate having around you. every single day. He's the type of. player who makes people around him. better without even trying. We love you, Capitano. >> [snorts]. >> We love you, Capitano.
I mean, I had so many more, but we just. don't have the time. Yeah, I know. It's just uh you know, the standout from that for me is just uh. the way they speak uh. from me as a person, not more as a. player, you know, like uh. he ends you you picked some people that. I'm very demanding on them, you know, like um. Diogo and Lucas has been your your. probably the players I've been more time. with me. Tom is probably up there with Harry, Harry, Luke, Diogo, and then Tom.
And these uh these people that I really. respect a lot, but yes as I said to you, like it's not what they say about me as. a player, it's more what they say uh. from me as as as a person. that. that makes me very proud and very happy. because uh. you you can be a good player, and I'm. going to meet a lot of good players in. the in the world of football, and you. can train with a lot of them, and and. meet them a lot. But uh I think that uh what it stays at. the end is like the way you behave as a.
person, and. >> [snorts]. >> I like to see that I have the good. values that my parents showed me. That's. what I said at the start, when you. started describing what your parents had. instilled in you back in Porto. It sounded like what all your colleagues. and your the players you play with said. to me as well, because I've done this. before, and people will say, "Oh, he's a. great player, he's amazing, whatever.". But what was consistently true through. all of those messages, and there's so. many more, is they all chose to speak. about you as a human. Yeah. And that's clear that clearly. comes from what whatever your parents. did at a young age.
Why does that mean so much to you? I can. see it in your face. No, because. as I said to you, uh I think as a player. you can be as good as you want. Like uh. at the end of the day, I think the way. you behave and the way you treat people. around you is the most important thing. Because you spend so much time with them. that uh. they kind of. become part of your day-by-day, you. know, like you you see more than often. than and then I see my parents, for. example. I I obviously my wife and my.
kids is the people that I see the most, but then after that is them. I don't see my friends from Portugal as. often as them, my parents, my brother, my sister. I I see more them and. and the way I behave, the way. I've been raised, the way I want to live. my life, and the way I want uh. my kids to be. is is the way they have uh they have. said things about me, and this makes me. very proud. >> What What is that emotion? >> I don't know. It's just like uh it's.
good to hear that. Just Just that. >> It's so interesting cuz I don't think. any anybody else that I've met would. respond. how you're responding to hearing people. talk about you as a man and as a human. >> Uh I don't know. I'm just a a soft guy. It doesn't look. on a pitch, but I'm quite quite a soft. guy. >> One thing I've learned from interviewing. a lot of founders and building companies. myself is that trust is the real. currency of business. It's the thing.
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deep sense of connection to them. And as. they leave, what I get them to do is to. write a question in the diary of a CEO. We've taken all of the questions from. the Diary of a CEO. We have put the. question. here on this card with the name of the. person that wrote it. So, you can sit at. home as I do with my fiance, and my. colleagues at work, and other people in. my life, whenever we get a minute, we. play the Diary of a CEO conversation. cards. And it is incredible what. happens. These are great if you're in a.
romantic relationship, and you want to. connect your partner more. These are. also great if you're in a team, and you. want to bond your team together. And I. have to say they're also great for. families that want to learn more more. about each other, and that need a good. excuse to spend some time in a digital. world in the analog environment. connecting human to human. It is. remarkable what the right question at. the right time can do. Go to the. diary.com, and you can get these conversation cards. right now. One of the things I learned through my.
investigations is that you have a a. clause in your contract, and you don't. have to you confirm or deny this. I'm. not going to ask you to. But what I what. I discovered is that you have a clause. in your contract which allows you to. leave for I I was I found out 60. million. And you chose not to leave. Manchester United. You got a very, very, very large financial offer. I mean, I've. seen some of the numbers that are. reported up to 200 million to leave. Manchester United, and you chose not to. leave. You could have rode off into the sunset.
You Frankly, I think the way you were. playing, you could have gone to almost. any club in the world. You could have. got paid more, and probably would have. had a. a more certain guarantee of winning. silverware, and for some reason you. chose to stay. When that offer came in, reportedly from. the Middle East, that you know, the big. offer that we're hearing, for a contract. that was worth a reportedly 200 million, why didn't you go? >> Uh. I said it before, I.
>> [sighs]. >> I haven't fulfilled my dreams here, you. know, at this club. >> Was that a conversation you had with. your wife? >> Yeah, also. >> What was that conversation? She seems to. be there all the time when you make. these big decisions. >> Oh. Of course. She's the one probably. I never make a decision by myself, because obviously. moving around nowadays with two kids has. has a lot to say, obviously. And uh. more than.
I don't know, become. uh. most richest person in my own town, I. want to. live my dreams, and pass through the. values to my kids that they they need to. have. And. my family is always going to be the. number one priority in everything I do. Um because. they followed my dream. Uh. you. They [snorts] um. they my wife.
obviously. I know on the other side it looks great. life, obviously a lot of money, good a. lot of good things, but. she chose to live my dream with me, and. that says a lot about her, because. let's say that when she. chose to do that, I was. 17 years old. going to a club with. uh. one point, like let's say.
uh. how do you say 1,500 you say? >> 1,500. >> Yes. A month. in Italy. Uh, >> [clears throat]. >> a lot of. uncertainty, let's say. She had uh. her own life. She had uh. her own. dreams. And uh obviously, she she said like. I'm I'm going to help you.
And uh that's what she did. Since Since day one until now. So, she always has a say on everything I do. >> And you've been with her since she was. 16. You're 16. >> Yeah. 16. She was 16. I was I was about. to be 17. So, more or less that's. And uh. and then after that, we have we have. constructed a beautiful family. >> Two beautiful kids. >> Yeah. >> And so, on that day when you get you get. a big offer to leave Manchester United,
she's the first person you speak to. >> Of course. As always, I spoke obviously first my. agent cuz he speaks with me about the. offer, but then the first thing I did. was call her. And I was in. >> [sighs]. >> I [snorts] think it was Hong Kong that. we were. Like we went on a post season tour. And. timing was not the best to talk with her. because of time difference and. everything. But she was there again. And uh. what.
the words she said was like. have you. have you achieved everything you wanted. to achieve in your career? Is this Is. this the next step you want to give for. for your future and for your career? Like. because obviously. this is the league I want to be. This is. the best league in the world. This is. where I'm going to. enjoy my football as I'm not going to. enjoy it in any other place. So, we. we still have her dreams to fulfill. Why does that make you emotional?
I don't know. Talking about family. It's It's tough. >> [snorts]. >> Just because. um. in the in the football career you go. through a lot ups and downs and a lot of. difficult moments. And uh. let's say the ones that suffered most. are them because. they see your good moments, your bad. moments, your good things, your bad. things. Your good side, your bad side also.
>> [snorts]. >> But they always stand by you so. that's the most important thing you can. have in life. >> And she's always been there. >> Yeah. >> She looks like my fiance a little bit. She's Portuguese. >> Portuguese girls are yeah. Very down-to-earth I hear. >> Yeah, she is. >> She's the one that pushed me. down-to-earth also when I'm probably. getting too much or feeling too big. She's always.
also very very tough on me to. make me understand that. all these things to improve. It's my let's say. she's the second version of my dad. Probably that's why. I chose her and she chose me in certain. way. >> Does she know this? Does she know? Have. you been able to tell her? >> Yeah. >> [snorts]. >> Yeah. >> I'm. She's not She's going to.
I can't say the word to what she's going. to say after she sees this and she sees. me crying. >> [snorts]. >> She's going to say I'm very soft. I. won't say the word exactly but. >> [laughter]. >> let's say that I'm the affection one and. all the one that likes hugs, that likes. uh. She's She's more. I don't know. She's. She likes She's She I think she. she's. through her life she had she had many. things going on and she built this thing.
around her that she doesn't need. >> [snorts]. >> let's say she doesn't need much love or. whatsoever but is there. many moments where. I know she needs I know she feels it I. know. she kind of like she's just like she's. not good at saying what she feels and uh. I'm more open I I show more my emotions. I show more if I care if I don't care if. I suffer if I don't suffer she she kind. of closes a little bit for herself.
Um. >> [snorts]. >> but she's a very strong woman to be. honest. >> I know you have two beautiful kids. together. >> Yeah, she do. We have a beautiful girl. That was the first one. At the time we were in Italy and then it. came. little Gonzalo. when we were in England. So one. let's say that she's always saying that. she's half Italian and one that. basically looks like British is white. blonde.
and. one half English let's say and then two. full Portuguese people. >> I didn't realize your celebration where. you you cover your ears is for your. daughter. >> Yeah. >> She covers her ears, right? >> Yeah, she used to do it when she was. younger. She's too old for that now. She's a little Anna now. Be very very. strong-minded very strong attitude. She has a lot from me in the terms of. being very strong and very. she's like she can take.
care of herself very well is exactly. like her mom. >> Well, I wanted to say thank you. I'm a. Man United fan and hearing that you you. know, have gone through this very. tumultuous period with the club where. you could have gone where you've had. many offers from many people to go and. do something else And you've had offers. where people offered you even more. money. And for whatever reason, and I. think it I now understand because I've. understood your values that your parents. instilled in you, you chose to stay and. to stick with us as a club and as a fan.
base. So, on behalf of myself and all of. my friends at Man United fans and the. Man United fan base, I just wanted to. say a huge thank you. Loyalty is increasingly rare these days. in football um because people are often. thinking about other things. So, as a. Man United fan, thank you so much. By doing that, you've also taught me. something as a man. You've also taught me what loyalty is. and how you treat other people. And. you've taught me a lesson about. responsibility in my businesses, in my. relationships, and in my life. And I. think this is a really important lesson.
because there are so many young men that. look up to you and what you've said. through the good and the bad times is. that you keep on going. You keep on going. You keep on fighting. You don't give up. You don't quit. And. it's so great that the captain of the. biggest club. on earth has those values and puts those. values before other things that might. tempt someone with. less integrity. So, I just wanted to say a huge thank. you. And I I also want to pass that on. from many of your teammates who are. very, very, very glad that you stayed.
>> Okay, thank you very much. I really. appreciate that. It's very kind words from you. >> And I hope you stay even longer. >> [laughter]. >> because I think we're coming into an. interesting period at Man United where. I think we have a lot of the sort of. foundations in place now. to to carry on. >> That's what I hope so. And I think. that's not the club, but everything in. general, the fans and everyone, I think. really. really deserve to. be back to the glory days. >> Things have changed. I mean, Ineos are.
here now. I know the I know quite a lot. of the guys at Ineos. I was away on the. in the tour with a couple of them during. at the American pre-season tour. And one. of the things they said to me is what. that when they arrived in the club there. wasn't structure. Couple of them had said to me there just. wasn't and it's so rare that you have. this this huge gap between the manager. and the ownership or the players in the. ownership. But usually in clubs there's. structure. They I think from what I've. heard from players they've put that. structure in place now. How has it. changed with Eny Osito's arrival?
>> No, I think was first of all it was. important because as you said, uh not that we didn't have a structure. but it was very difficult for players to. understand where where they had to go. To talk in certain situations that they. we were not very clear we should talk. with. And now I think it's very clear. that you have Jason and then you have. Omar and then you have Sir Jim. I'm I'm. very aware that now. the structure that we have is is a good. foundation and a good base for us to.
understand where and what places we need. to go if we need something as a club or. as a players. >> Has it improved? >> We started a process with. Ruben where we thought that would be a. process of three four years. That was. the plan of the club. Then we know there. was a break in in a relationship there. between the manager and the club and. they had to change unfortunately. Uh. and now they today they have announced. that they want to go in a direction with. with Michael and hopefully for me I hope. that it stays stable because the main.
thing the club needs is stability in. terms of managing because. if you really believe that Michael is. the guy and and you took him to the job. I think you have to. give him the foundations he needs to. build what he thinks he needs for a. successful team. At that same time I. think you brought someone in that knows. what are the values of the club. And I. think that's the main thing and the most. important thing that the club brings. people in that know the values and know. what's needed and have a great character. to be at this club.
>> And Michael's the guy? >> Yeah, because as I said I think he's the. is the one that uh. knows the club better than any any. player that here. He's been probably more time at the. club. I've been with him as a manager, assistant manager, and then manager. The. way he behaves. he shows that he has the character to be. the manager of Man United and think. that's very important to. have someone that in. the the the full process will know. always where he wants to go where he. wants to be and how much he wants this. club to succeed.
>> You said it to me earlier that since. Michael Carrick has joined Man United. won more points than any club in the. Premier League and that's statistically. accurate. For this to continue on and to. continue going forward obviously the. summer is going to be really really. important. And I was talking to a few of. the other players about this as well. like Diego. What needs to happen this. summer in your opinion for Manchester. United to continue to move up and. potentially even fight for the title? >> We need recruitment. This is obviously. we know we know like obviously we losing. Casemiro that is a pivotal pivotal thing. that we had so we going to need a player.
to replace him. Either is a player that. is already in the house, either is a. player that's coming. We need to. reinforce the team to become stronger as. a team not. we need the best player in the world. this or that. No, we need players that. want to come to United to understand. that we through a process that we want. to win the league but it might not. happen. But this is the way we want to. go to become the successful club that we. were before. So I think the recruitment. has to be the right one. We need to. bring the right people in again as we. did last summer. I think in that Ruben.
was great in the choices he made to. bring the players he he did to to the. club because he brought good characters, good players, and good professionals. also and I think that's very important. for the next one. >> Bruno, we have a closing tradition on. this podcast where the last guest leaves. a question for the next guest not. knowing who they're leaving the question. for. And the question that's been left. for you is if we sat here in 5 years. time. and the 5 years that had just passed. were a huge success, what would have had to have happened?
>> Huge success. Let's say that I've I've won the Premier. League. I've won the Champions League with the. club and. we brought. gobiotes. We've brought the club back to. the place he has to be in terms of club, obviously. In 5 years time I would like to be able. to touch one of the gold ones too with. my national team. Of course, that's. Let's say that's my. biggest goal in terms of career.
It's probably the World Cup. I would say. cuz winning the Premier League and the. Champions League. with this club will be amazing, but. representing my nation will be always. the biggest achievement I have in my. career because. not many players get to do that, you. know, like. >> [sighs]. >> representing your. This is. when you represent your people, when you. represent your parents, your brother, sister, wife, kids. This is you You represent that small.
nation inside, but in size, but. big in quality and big in. in love and and fearless and fearless. country that has conquered the world. many times in different ways. and do it in a in in in a football way. will be will be a a great achievement. for us. >> Irrespective of what happens here, and I. I very much believe that Manchester. United has now the potential to go and. challenge for these trophies here. because of all the hard work that has.
been put in by many people in this club, but also because of your loyalty. Um. irrespective of what happens, I you're. going to be a a cult hero at this club. forever. Not not not irrespective of this stuff. because I think you've done something. which is even harder and even more rare. in the modern world, which is you've. shown tremendous loyalty, unbelievable. character, you've shown humanity, and. you've set an example for the club when. we were at our weakest, when we needed. someone to do that the most. It's all. well and good doing it when everything's. great. It's all well and good, but doing.
being that committed and that loyal and. setting that much of an example and. continuing to run on the pitch, but also. to be an exceptional human off the pitch. when times are hard, I think says even. more about a man. So again, on behalf of. all the Man United fans, a huge huge. thank you and um. please sign the contract. >> [laughter]. >> When he's in the table. Bruno, thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you so much. >> a pleasure. Thank you. >> [laughter]. >> YouTube have this new crazy algorithm. where they know exactly what video you. would like to watch next based on AI and.
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