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Ex-Southampton man Jo Tessem has insisted that Saints star Mateus Fernandes is on a different level from everyone else in the team.
The Portuguese midfielder joined Saints from Sporting Lisbon in the summer on a five-year deal.
Southampton are struggling massively after achieving promotion back to the Premier League as they are sitting second bottom in the table with only a point.
Fernandes has started five league matches already and Tessem feels that the young midfielder has grown in his role at Saints.
The former Saints star is of the view that the Portugal Under-21 international is on a different level from other players in the squad.
“I think Fernandes has grown really in his role”, Tessem told BBC Radio Solent about the Saints summer signing.
“The more he feels settled, he feels like he is on a different level from the rest of them.”
It could be difficult for Russell Martin’s side to keep Fernandes beyond this season if they go down by the end of the campaign.
It is unclear if Fernandes has a relegation release clause in his Southampton contract.
