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Speaking exclusively on the Beast Mode Podcast after receiving the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has spoken about his unexpected beginnings in football. The Portuguese playmaker said he actually started out as a centre-back, before also sharing an amusing training-ground tale about pushing his sprinting ability against powerful Red Devils team-mate Benjamin Sesko.

From defensive beginnings to midfield star

The modern Premier League is widely seen as the most physically demanding league in world football, with players required to keep stretching their athletic limits. While United depend heavily on the creativity and technical quality of their captain, his route to becoming one of Europe's leading playmakers started in a surprising role.

Before making his name as a prolific attacking influence, Fernandes had to depend on his football intelligence to cope against much bigger opponents. The Portugal international has always shown a fierce competitive streak at Old Trafford, and that quality comes directly from his early years in the game as an undersized defender.

Having just been named PFA Players' Player of the Year, the United skipper sat down to discuss that unusual journey. In a special edition of the Beast Mode Podcast with former striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, Fernandes opened up on his early football days and his continuing desire to measure himself against the physical standouts of the modern game.

Fernandes opens up on his centre-back roots

Looking back on his development, Fernandes explained that his youth career forced him to adapt. He said his football journey began in the middle of defence, where tactical understanding had to make up for his lack of size.

"I started my career as a centre-back," Fernandes revealed. "Being the skinniest and the smallest, that was good for me because I had to use my brain to get ahead of the striker."

Speaking light-heartedly with the famously physical Akinfenwa about how he would have dealt with him on the pitch, the United star added: "I wouldn't give you the space to pin me. I would allow you to have the ball and then when you turn I might need to get a very strong tackle in to get the ball from you. If you come too fast at me that might be a problem too!"

Testing himself against Benjamin Sesko

That readiness to take on imposing opponents goes back to his childhood in Portugal. Fernandes said his fearless style came from playing street football against children much older than him, explaining: "Growing up, in my time, you play in the streets a lot. I was always one of the youngest, because my brother is five years older than me, so I was playing against him and his friends. I got used to getting beat but also to beating people who were stronger than me. So I'm never afraid to put my foot in or to go into duels."

That competitive edge is still visible at United's Carrington training ground. The captain recounted a story about racing Red Devils team-mate Sesko in a sprint, where he pushed himself to a personal-best top speed of 35.5 km/h.

"Last season in training I had to do a 50-yard run with Benjamin Sesko," Fernandes recalled. "I started two steps earlier and he was behind me so I was pushing myself and I beat my highest top speed that was 35.5. He got to 37 [km/h] something at the end so that's why he caught me at the end but I was so proud of myself because Ben is such a strong and physical player, and very quick. But this is the thing I like in training, to go up against the ones that I know are better than me at something so I can test myself."

Watch the full episode