Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes revealed he "was really sad" when Declan Rice decided to join Arsenal.

Rice joined the Gunners from West Ham for a reported £105m in 2023, and has helped Mikel Arteta's side become consistent title challengers.

Arsenal are potentially two games away from winning their first Premier League title since 2003-04, while they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final later this month.

Rice, like Fernandes, has been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award, with the England midfielder being shortlisted for the award in all three of his campaigns with Arsenal.

Rice has played the most minutes of any outfield Arsenal player in the league this season (3,009), while he leads the team in expected assists (xA – 6.9) and possession regains per 90 (5.2).

Before joining Arsenal, Rice was reportedly of interest to Manchester City, but Fernandes wanted to see his counterpart join him at Old Trafford.

Speaking on JoelBeyaTV's Youtube channel, Fernandes said: "To be honest, I admire him a lot, first of all as a person, because I know him from the Algarve when we were training together and everything.

"Obviously, I knew him already from West Ham and we all knew the qualities he had and I have always said that I thought Rice was a player to play for Man United.

"I was really sad when he chose to go to Arsenal, I don't know if there was the opportunity or the chance to come to Manchester United, but I always thought that he would be the perfect fit for our club.

"Not just for the player he is but for the person he is, for the professional, he showed me that he is in for his personality and I think what he has been doing this season is a different position, it is a different style of play.

"The way Arsenal play is different from the way we play, so we can't compare the players but what we can say is that he has been one of the standout players from the Premier League this season."