of manchester united Reported interest in Mateus Fernandes has prompted fresh discussion in Portugal over how far the West Ham midfielder could go in the game.
The 21-year-old has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent days Portuguese reports claim he is on Manchester United's shortlist Because the club is preparing for big changes in midfield this summer.
Those links come after another season of rapid progress for Fernandes. Despite West Ham languishing in the Championship, the Portuguese international has raised his profile in the Premier League and attracted the attention of some of England's biggest clubs.
Now, a coach who has played a crucial role in his development has provided perhaps the strongest support he has ever received.
"I don't know where his limit is."
Vasco Seabra worked with Fernandes during his loan spell at Estoril in the 2023/24 season, a period that helped establish the midfielder in top-flight football.
talking to Renaissance RadioThe Arauca manager admitted he was struggling to identify where Fernandes' ceiling might be.
“Mateus has shown season after season that the higher level he competes, the better he responds.” Seabra said.
"I still don't really know at what level it will ultimately stop or stabilize."
“He appears to be one of those players whose higher level, the more value and quality he can add to the team.”
While Seabra admits this prospect would have seemed ambitious two years ago, he insists the player's rise makes complete sense to anyone who knows him well.
"He has a huge range of abilities"
After this the Portuguese coach started making a detailed assessment of Fernandes' qualities.
"He's got a huge range of abilities. I mean, he's got technical quality and he's a kid with a great heart and mentality."
During his tenure at Estoril, Fernandes became a regular at a level he had not yet fully reached at Sporting. Seabra believes the experience accelerated his development and helped prepare him for England.
"We hoped, and I especially hoped, that he could reach the top teams very quickly."
However, even he was surprised by how quickly the player entered talks involving some of Europe's biggest clubs.
"It would be wrong for me to say that I expected that, two years later, he could be in Real Madrid's plans. He was really very young when he came to us."
That said, Seabra had little doubt over Fernandes' ability to establish himself in the Premier League.
"I expected him to reach Premier League level in a very short period of time."
“He really had the mentality and daily commitment, both in training and in matches, that made me believe he could reach a very high level.”
Why might Manchester United like what they hear?
Many of Seabra's comments would likely appeal to Manchester United if their interest develops into something more concrete. The coach painted a picture of a player who responds positively to pressure rather than shrinking from it.
According to him Fernandes is Not the type that needs constant reassurance.
"Mateus is not a person who needs emotional comfort all the time."He said.
“Essentially, Mateus needs people to trust him and ask him for things.”
That mentality was visible during his stay in England. Even during difficult seasons with Southampton and West Ham, he continued to be an outstanding performer.
Mourinho's comments provide insight
Seabra was also asked about the possibility of Fernandes working under Jose Mourinho Amidst Real Madrid rumors.
"I believe that a profile like that of Jose Mourinho – an expert in communication, leadership and the way he manages players' expectations and disappointments – would be beneficial."
"He pushes players up and challenges them to be better."He said. “This will be a relationship that can be very beneficial to both of us.”
Whether Fernandes ends up at Manchester United, stays at West Ham or goes another path entirely, Seabra's message was clear.
The coach who helped launch his career believes the midfielder is still developing rapidly. More importantly, he admits that he has yet to figure out where a player's true limits actually lie.
