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Paris Saint-Germain star Vitinha has named Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes as one of the top four midfielders in the world but snubbed Arsenal\u2019s Declan Rice.<\/p>\n
Fernandes has had another brilliant campaign for the Red Devils and has been key to their march up the Premier League table under interim head coach Michael Carrick.<\/p>\n
The Man Utd<\/strong> captain has contributed eight goals and 19 assists in 31 Premier League matches this season with the third-placed Red Devils almost certain to qualify for the Champions League.<\/p>\n And his Portugal team-mate has chosen the 31-year-old as one of the best midfielders in the world and also chose compatriot Joao Neves as part of a four-man list.<\/p>\n When asked by Canal 11<\/em> who he rates as the best midfielders in the world, Vitinha replied: \u201cI would put Pedri at the top of the list. He is magical, it is spectacular to see him play. When you play against him, you understand him even better.<\/p>\n \u201cA top-three? I would go with Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes. They are both on either side of me and Pedri. So, I don\u2019t have a top three but a top four.\u201d<\/p>\n READ: Lionel Messi and \u2018the uncomfortable truth\u2019 surrounding his superstardom<\/strong><\/p>\n Vitinha didn\u2019t mention Arsenal midfielder Rice but former England and Tottenham striker Gary Lineker reckons the Gunners star has been the best player in the Premier League this season.<\/p>\n Lineker said on The Rest is Football<\/em> podcast: \u201cI think he\u2019s the player of the season for me. I know they\u2019ll probably give it to someone that\u2019s going to win something.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, it\u2019s probably him or maybe Declan Rice if Arsenal go on and manage to clinch the title.<\/p>\n \u201cBut at the moment, for me, to do what he\u2019s done this season\u2026 and he was still the standout player even when they were going through a rotten spell when they were really struggling under Ruben Amorim.<\/p>\n READ: Big Weekend: Man United v Liverpool, Tottenham, Viktor Gyokeres, Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s got such a great footballing brain and technique. What a player, what a player!\u201d<\/p>\n TalkSPORT<\/em> presenter Adrian Durham thinks it\u2019s laughable that anyone would consider Fernandes for the Premier League\u2019s Player of the Year award.<\/p>\n Durham said on talkSPORT<\/em>: \u201cMy tolerance level has peaked with people banging on, droning on, whining on about Bruno Fernandes and his assist stats.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he\u2019s going to break some record or other apparently. First of all, assist stats. I mean, do they really mean that much? They\u2019re a little guide.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you can use them, fine. But what was this assist? Was it a pass to somebody who smacked in a<\/p>\n \u201cAnyway, besides that, let\u2019s just say Bruno Fernandes\u2019 assist stats should carry an asterisk. Someone said to me the other day that Bruno Fernandes should be Player of the Year.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t laughed so much since I caught on video Alex Crook, the chief football correspondent, doing the YMCA in a bar near Wembley. And he\u2019s still paying me for keeping that video.\u201d<\/p>\n READ NEXT: Why Carrick is \u2018difficult to let go of\u2019 despite being \u2018similar to or worse than Amorim\u2019 at Man Utd<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\nFernandes for Player of the Year? Don\u2019t make me laugh\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n