Mateus Fernandes - Player Thread

Spursex said:
In my mind, I fully accept that we're paying massively over the odds for him, but clearly we believe he will kick on - and who wouldn't pay £65 mill + add ons (what I'm told it's closer to) for Bruno Fernandez now?

It's a huge risk, but then when you spend big, when wasn't it?
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The fact we're in the mix says it all.

Alongside Savinho he's an audacious talent but the numbers aren't there quite yet. Given the right environment and both could flourish.
 
steveperryman said:
The fact we're in the mix says it all.

Alongside Savinho he's an audacious talent but the numbers aren't there quite yet. Given the right environment and both could flourish.
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Putting him alongside Tonali, may well be a master stroke then any one of Madders/Xavi/kulu/Gallager and even God help me, Bentancur.

Add in Kulu, as and when he is fully up to speed and we have a solid looking defence and a formidable midfield...
 
Spursex said:
Unfortunately for Fernandes, it has not quite worked out in terms of team success. Back-to-back relegations have tarnished the growing career of a promising midfield talent.

But despite the difficult contexts he's been trusted with, Fernandes has remained a positive influence on the dressing room wherever he has gone.

"He was a fantastic lad to work with," adds Rusk. "I think he was mentally tough, but he'd be hurt. I could see how much it hurt him, the relegation at Southampton.

"And I'm sure he'll be hurting again with being part of a relegation at West Ham. But, his character, he will use that as fuel.

"It will only make him a stronger, better player. It's not necessarily what happens to you, it's what meaning you apply to it. And I think for Matty, he's got a growth mindset.

"He's got an unbelievably excellent attitude towards becoming better. So he can only use this as being better."

All these attributes helped convince multiple managers - including Rusk, Russell Martin, Graham Potter and Nuno Espirito Santo - that Fernandes is a player worth sticking with, even at his tender age.


Since moving to the Premier League aged 19, Fernandes has started all but four of the top-flight games he's been available for. Two of those matches were his first two appearances in the competition, one was due to suspension and the other saw him score off the bench away at Leeds last season.

"You're looking at a 20-year-old, he's landed in the Premier League and plays week in, week out," says Rusk. "He's instantly gained the trust of everyone in the building.

"And one thing you can't underestimate as well with a young player, he moved to a new country, new environment, different language, the predominant language. And he was able to deal with all of those things and seamlessly become a regular starter in the Premier League.

"There was a level of maturity about him without any shadow of a doubt. Single-minded, but really good to work with - and very respectful. And all of those ingredients lend themselves to someone developing and becoming a better player."

What has helped Fernandes settle in is the player's ability to learn new information quickly - which will bode him well as he prepares for a third summer move in three years.

"I've worked with a lot of players where they've got an unbelievable raw talent, but maybe less coachable in terms of how they're willing to absorb information," says Rusk. "But Matty was, from that point of view, a dream to work with."

Rusk saw that firsthand during his time working with Fernandes at Southampton.

When the Saints visited Spurs in April 2025, Rusk - who was part of the Saints backroom staff at the time - worked with the midfielder for a couple of days on making late runs into the box, in a bid to stifle Ange Postecoglou's high line.

Fernandes ended up scoring in that game via a late run into the box. In a game remembered for Southampton suffering the earliest Premier League relegation in history, there were signs of a future gem in the works.

"The best players I've worked with, they learn quick. You tell them something and the penny drops quite quickly," Rusk says.

"And that Tottenham game, we only had a day or two working on the timing of his runs into the box and he arrived with a goal late with what we'd worked on.

"It was another bit of reinforcement where I thought: 'yeah, you've got a real chance of going on to great things here.'

"I've benchmarked it against a lot of the players that have gone on to playing right at the top of the game: international football, Champions League, Premier League football. They were very resilient, they were very single-minded and they learn quick. And I definitely put Matty in that bracket."

And speaking of goals, that is one area where Fernandes could improve. He got five goals and five assists for West Ham last season - which is not bad for a team who ended up being relegated.

But as Rusk says: "If he applies goals, then you're probably moving towards a complete midfielder." All of a sudden, the interest in Fernandes starts to make sense.
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I wonde4 if at the age of 20 he will form a real body with Bergvall and Gray and they can all spark off each thus pushing thei greater development. A unity of the youngsters could be very important as we move forward. Mustn’t forget the likes of Moore and Souza too. A good strong young core is developing.
 
Spursex said:
Unfortunately for Fernandes, it has not quite worked out in terms of team success. Back-to-back relegations have tarnished the growing career of a promising midfield talent.

But despite the difficult contexts he's been trusted with, Fernandes has remained a positive influence on the dressing room wherever he has gone.

"He was a fantastic lad to work with," adds Rusk. "I think he was mentally tough, but he'd be hurt. I could see how much it hurt him, the relegation at Southampton.

"And I'm sure he'll be hurting again with being part of a relegation at West Ham. But, his character, he will use that as fuel.

"It will only make him a stronger, better player. It's not necessarily what happens to you, it's what meaning you apply to it. And I think for Matty, he's got a growth mindset.

"He's got an unbelievably excellent attitude towards becoming better. So he can only use this as being better."

All these attributes helped convince multiple managers - including Rusk, Russell Martin, Graham Potter and Nuno Espirito Santo - that Fernandes is a player worth sticking with, even at his tender age.


Since moving to the Premier League aged 19, Fernandes has started all but four of the top-flight games he's been available for. Two of those matches were his first two appearances in the competition, one was due to suspension and the other saw him score off the bench away at Leeds last season.

"You're looking at a 20-year-old, he's landed in the Premier League and plays week in, week out," says Rusk. "He's instantly gained the trust of everyone in the building.

"And one thing you can't underestimate as well with a young player, he moved to a new country, new environment, different language, the predominant language. And he was able to deal with all of those things and seamlessly become a regular starter in the Premier League.

"There was a level of maturity about him without any shadow of a doubt. Single-minded, but really good to work with - and very respectful. And all of those ingredients lend themselves to someone developing and becoming a better player."

What has helped Fernandes settle in is the player's ability to learn new information quickly - which will bode him well as he prepares for a third summer move in three years.

"I've worked with a lot of players where they've got an unbelievable raw talent, but maybe less coachable in terms of how they're willing to absorb information," says Rusk. "But Matty was, from that point of view, a dream to work with."

Rusk saw that firsthand during his time working with Fernandes at Southampton.

When the Saints visited Spurs in April 2025, Rusk - who was part of the Saints backroom staff at the time - worked with the midfielder for a couple of days on making late runs into the box, in a bid to stifle Ange Postecoglou's high line.

Fernandes ended up scoring in that game via a late run into the box. In a game remembered for Southampton suffering the earliest Premier League relegation in history, there were signs of a future gem in the works.

"The best players I've worked with, they learn quick. You tell them something and the penny drops quite quickly," Rusk says.

"And that Tottenham game, we only had a day or two working on the timing of his runs into the box and he arrived with a goal late with what we'd worked on.

"It was another bit of reinforcement where I thought: 'yeah, you've got a real chance of going on to great things here.'

"I've benchmarked it against a lot of the players that have gone on to playing right at the top of the game: international football, Champions League, Premier League football. They were very resilient, they were very single-minded and they learn quick. And I definitely put Matty in that bracket."

And speaking of goals, that is one area where Fernandes could improve. He got five goals and five assists for West Ham last season - which is not bad for a team who ended up being relegated.

But as Rusk says: "If he applies goals, then you're probably moving towards a complete midfielder." All of a sudden, the interest in Fernandes starts to make sense.
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Thanks ex, that’s the best insight I’ve read in a long time. Real gut-level stuff, I now “see” an individual not just a body in a team shirt.
I now amend my earlier appraisal and shout welcome Mateus.
 
spurs1954 said:
I wonde4 if at the age of 20 he will form a real body with Bergvall and Gray and they can all spark off each thus pushing thei greater development. A unity of the youngsters could be very important as we move forward. Mustn’t forget the likes of Moore and Souza too. A good strong young core is developing.
Click to expand...
Holding onto them when they know we really only have PL and domestic cup football is not going to be easy. Agents get alot of pressure and reviews for their personal sponsorship deals and when it stops looking so easy, that's when agents pile the pressure on their clients.
 
Spursex said:
Putting him alongside Tonali, may well be a master stroke then any one of Madders/Xavi/kulu/Gallager and even God help me, Bentancur.

Add in Kulu, as and when he is fully up to speed and we have a solid looking defence and a formidable midfield...
Click to expand...
Well on paper anyway. I'm liking the look of our midfield in particular. It's an offensive midfield unit whereas we're used to seeing a defensive one.
 
Spursex said:
Holding onto them when they know we really only have PL and domestic cup football is not going to be easy. Agents get alot of pressure and reviews for their personal sponsorship deals and when it stops looking so easy, that's when agents pile the pressure on their clients.
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Fully understand that Ex!
 
Does anyone really think Citeh will be prepared to pay £100m for a second midfield player?
And would Wharton be an alternative, different type of player I know. But neither Fernandes and Wharton are shy when it comes to putting in a tackle.
Or would Palhinha be a better way to go and spend the money in the forward areas?
 
Spursex said:
Holding onto them when they know we really only have PL and domestic cup football is not going to be easy. Agents get alot of pressure and reviews for their personal sponsorship deals and when it stops looking so easy, that's when agents pile the pressure on their clients.
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I hear what you are saying Ex, but they need to understand that we are building a squad that at the minimum RDZ would find acceptable is CL football and a cup.
Citeh - new manager
Liverpool - new manager
Chelsea - new manager
Man United - young manager with CL football to juggle
Newcastle - Falling apart
Villa - Losing Rodgers
Arsenal are the only certainty regarding what to expect as far as I can see, coupled with the insight that RDZ gained into what he believes is needed in those seven games I believe we may have a jump on our rivals
 
Topspur1 said:
I hear what you are saying Ex, but they need to understand that we are building a squad that at the minimum RDZ would find acceptable is CL football and a cup.
Citeh - new manager
Liverpool - new manager
Chelsea - new manager
Man United - young manager with CL football to juggle
Newcastle - Falling apart
Villa - Losing Rodgers
Arsenal are the only certainty regarding what to expect as far as I can see, coupled with the insight that RDZ gained into what he believes is needed in those seven games I believe we may have a jump on our rivals
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I hear you, the problem is agents and players don't always see it that way.
 
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