BRUNO FERNANDES has been ‘mentally bullied’ by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United return, according to Paul Parker.
The Portuguese duo were united at club level when Ronaldo returned to the Red Devils in the summer.
But Fernandes has since looked ‘subdued’ – scoring just once since CR7’s arrival.
Former United ace Parker, 57, believes that the attacking midfielder has been ‘manipulated’ by his compatriot’s return.
He told Betfred: “The main player for me is Fernandes. I think he’s been manipulated by Ronaldo’s return and I think that’s affected him.
“He’s allowed himself to be mentally bullied out of doing all the good things he was doing before.
“He shirked responsibility in the Leicester game when he would have took it on himself normally but he decided to take the pass to Ronaldo.
“He’s not grabbing hold of games as he did before. He’s not making opportunities anymore and you have to look at him and think to yourself ‘why is that?’.
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“And there’s only one reason – it’s because he feels he’s got to deliver to Ronaldo and I think there’s a few other players like that as well.
“But he sticks out because he’s been instrumental in all that United have achieved up until this season.”
Fernandes, 27, has scored four goals in 13 appearances so far this term.
But three of them came in the opening day 5-1 romp over Leeds – prior to Ronaldo’s arrival.
Parker also believes that a member of United’s back four isn’t the player he was last season.
He added: “I think we have to talk about Luke Shaw. I think he’s maybe been reading his own headlines.
“I look at his appearance on the pitch now – it isn’t very good. It’s not a good look.
“I think he’s looking in this manner now after scoring in a European Championship final.
“I don’t know whether that’s got to him but he’s not the player who was there at the back end of last season.”
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