Ronaldo, Pogba lead Bruno Fernandes’ five-aside team

Manchester United forward, Bruno Fernandes, has named a star-studded five-a-side team, led by Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba, drawing on players he has shared the pitch with during his career.

According to Planet Football on Friday, Fernandes, speaking to Rio Ferdinand on the latest episode of Rio Ferdinand Presents, the Manchester United and Portugal midfielder revealed a selection so front-footed it would make even Ange Postecoglou raise an eyebrow.

Fernandes began with the one concession to defending he was prepared to make. After some hesitation, he settled on Pepe as his sole defender, edging out Raphael Varane simply because of the longer time they spent together.

Fernandes also highlighted the role Pepe played in helping him settle with the Portugal national team, joking about being tired of seeing the veteran centre-back’s endless cycling exploits on Instagram.

With the back line, such as it was, decided, Fernandes moved swiftly into more comfortable territory. Juan Mata was his first midfield pick, described as one of the most technically gifted players he has ever played alongside, and an even better person off the pitch. Mata’s intelligence and touch, in Fernandes’ eyes, made him a perfect five-a-side operator.

Alongside Mata, Fernandes selected Paul Pogba, a choice that came with glowing praise. Fernandes labelled Pogba the most complete midfielder he has seen in a long time, recalling how dominant the Frenchman was during his Juventus peak.

He admitted he saw far less of that version at Manchester United due to injuries, but vividly remembered trying and failing to mark Pogba in Italy, where the physical mismatch felt more like a child being held at arm’s length than a midfield duel.

Up front, there was no debate over the first name. Cristiano Ronaldo was an automatic inclusion, with Fernandes calling him the game’s ultimate goalscorer. The final spot, however, produced the surprise of the selection.

Rather than opting for one of the many modern superstars he has shared a pitch with, Fernandes chose Udinese legend Antonio Di Natale.

Fernandes praised Di Natale’s loyalty and remarkable consistency, pointing out that he remained one of Serie A’s top scorers despite playing for a side often flirting with relegation. In Fernandes’ view, Di Natale’s goal-to-games ratio places him among the Italian league’s all-time great finishers.

The final five — Pepe, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Antonio Di Natale — was chosen as much for chemistry and relationships as raw ability. Fernandes admitted he could have picked many others, but preferred a blend of friendship and footballing feel.