Bruno Fernandes hits back at Man Utd teammate Nemanja Matic over Sporting jibe

Bruno Fernandes has comically taken to social media to respond to a jibe by his Manchester United teammate Nemanja Matic.

United returned to full-contact training this week and the time spent apart during lockdown appears to have done little to dampen the camaraderie between players.

Fernandes, 25, and Matic, 31, seem to have struck up a particularly close bond since the former's £47million January transfer to Old Trafford.

And Matic poked some banter at his teammate earlier this week by comparing Fernandes' former club Sporting with his own old side Benfica.

The clubs are two of the most successful in Portuguese history and it is Benfica who hold the advantage over their rivals this season.

In the Primeira Liga, they hold a 17-point advantage over rivals Sporting - and Matic was keen to point this out to Fernandes.

While enjoying a socially-distanced spin on exercise bikes, the former Chelsea midfielder stretched his arms and said: "There is always a distance between Benfica and Sporting."

And Portugal star Fernandes hit back the day after by leading his team to victory in a training match.

After his victory alongside Scott McTominay, Angel Gomes, Luke Shaw, Mason Greenwood, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Odion Ighalo, Fernandes could not help but taunt Matic with his own words.

In an Instagram post, he wrote: "Nemanja Matic, is always a distance between the winning team and your team."

Fernandes has quickly settled since his January transfer, scoring or assisting five times in his first five Premier League games to win the Player of the Month award for February.

United fans will hope he can resume his fine form when the season resumes next month, with the Red Devils set to face Tottenham Hotspur in their first match back.

Supporters are also excited at the prospect of Fernandes linking up with fellow midfield star Paul Pogba as United aim to achieve a top four finish.

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