Ricardo Fernandes, who works for the NHS and plays for non-league side Roffey, has revealed he is protective of his younger brother and admits opposition players and supporters sometimes target him due to his family links.
He told FourFourTwo: “Oh, yes, that happens. I’m not saying every game, but most games. I don’t mind people coming up to me and speaking about my brother. I’m glad Bruno is known around the world. Manchester United was a big step for him. You hear the criticism and sometimes it affects you. It’s tempting to comment, but you have to leave it.”
While Ricardo, 34, plays in Division One of the Southern Combination Football League, Bruno, 29, is a world-famous footballer, captaining United and playing 63 times for his country Portugal. The older sibling even said at one point, many thought he would make it in football and not Bruno.
Ricardo added: “When I was young, my friends and close family probably thought I was the brother who was going to make it, but I didn’t and he did.”
