Fernandes says he treasures the opportunity he had to play with Ronaldo for 18 months at United.
"Cristiano is an easy one for me," he told manutd.com when asked about players he looks up to. "He is Portuguese and everyone from 2000 – I was born in 1994 – from that age upwards, everyone was looking at him and seeing him.
"He won the Ballon d'Or with the club, which was something very special. All the fans here, when he came back, will never forget that day, when he comes back against Newcastle.
"It was an unforgettable day, he comes back, scores two goals and looks like he never left and everything. The atmosphere in the stadium was crazy that day, probably the best one I have experienced.
"Just the fact of Cristiano coming back, not the rest, but what was created around that, him getting into the pitch, the way he was presented, everything gives goosebumps still to me."