Rio Ferdinand and Bruno Fernandes have both admitted that Ayden Heaven has a trait that even the two of them couldn’t show at Manchester United.
Ayden Heaven joined Manchester United in January 2025 for a transfer fee of around £1.5 million in what was a slightly controversial move.
Although he initially joined to be part of the Academy’s U21s, he quickly impressed through performances in training and earned a starting spot in some key Europa League and Premier League ties, making seven appearances.
With United playing just one game a week, his chances had been limited this campaign, having played just five minutes of football prior to December.
However, Rúben Amorim has started Heaven in the club’s last three fixtures against West Ham, Wolves, and Bournemouth, showing his trust in the 19-year-old amid injuries.
Fernandes cannot believe Heaven’s ability to switch to game mode
Recently, United captain Bruno Fernandes sat down with club legend Rio Ferdinand to discuss the current state of the club under Amorim. In one section, they spoke about United’s young stars, and Fernandes took time to praise Heaven for his ability to switch on his composure when needed.
“Ayden is the one that like, he always goes too far with everyone, and I think he does it on purpose,” Fernandes told Ferdinand on his YouTube channel.
“He likes to be like, he’s a very good kid, that we see him in the training, and the day by day, and you see him on the pitch when we’re playing, and we say like, ‘this is not the same guy’. The way he can switch is not like, we’re like that, this is not the same guy. It’s hard to do that, you know.
“He’s coming out of the dressing room to go to the warm-up, you still can see him, a little bit like, laughing and stuff like that. As soon as he gets into the pitch, like, you look at his face, and he looks like an old man playing. Like, serious face, everything.”
It’s a unique trait that even the best don’t have
In reply, Ferdinand said he felt that was a trait even he couldn’t master during his playing career. “I couldn’t do that, you know,” the former defender admitted. “I had to be serious when I wake up, and be ready on the bus. Serious and focused.”
Fernandes then agreed, saying: “That’s me [too]. I think it’s like more old school mentality, we used to see the other ones like that, so we were like, okay, focus, like, no noise, no nothing.
“They [United’s younger players] are very relaxed, they go into the game in the dressing room, they’re very like, light. But then they go to the pitch, and you see a completely different [person].”
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Continuing, Fernandes praised the relaxed mentality of the young stars. He said, “I’ve been adapting to them, the way they do things, and to be honest, some of the things they do, it quite relaxes me.
“Also, I’ve changed some of the things by looking at them, how can they be so relaxed and still get to the pitch and everything.
“So, sometimes even the dressing room, so I need to be relaxed and joke with them and everything. Ten minutes before going out, I put myself in my warm-up thing, I do my things, I’m focused on it.”
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