Tottenham’s £85 million summer signing Mateus Fernandes announced himself to the Spurs faithful in the most dramatic fashion possible on Wednesday evening.
The Portuguese midfielder scored a breathtaking volley just three minutes into a behind-closed-doors friendly at Hotspur Way against MK Dons.
Fernandes lined up in a newly formed midfield trio alongside Sandro Tonali and Conor Gallagher under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
The moment of magic arrived early, sparked by a corner from Mathys Tel that MK Dons goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray could only punch clear to the edge of the area.
Fernandes read the flight of the ball perfectly, meeting it on the volley and unleashing a venomous strike that cannoned off the inside of the post and into the net.
The goal proved to be the only moment of the match, with Tottenham claiming a 1-0 victory over the League One side in a strong pre-season showing.
It was a statement debut for a player who cost the club £85 million from West Ham, immediately justifying the faith that De Zerbi has placed in him from the start.
Speaking to club media after the final whistle, the 22-year-old was visibly overjoyed and had no hesitation in placing the strike above everything else in his career so far.
“It was my favourite goal of my career. By a mile,” he said after the game, before adding: “I need to do this more and more times, to shoot outside of the box, I know that I can do it.”
He also made clear what the moment means for his confidence going forward, saying: “This just gives me confidence for the rest of the days.”
The immediate impact from Fernandes provides Tottenham with a significant boost as De Zerbi’s squad continues its pre-season preparations ahead of the Premier League campaign opener against Brentford.
Few debuts carry this kind of quality, and supporters will be hoping this stunning volley is only the first of many memorable contributions from the Portuguese star.
