Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has spoken highly of current skipper Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese maestro is on the threshold of history, having registered 19 assists in the Premier League this season.
With three games remaining, Fernandes now has the chance to equal or even break the league record of 20 assists, which belongs to Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. The 31 year old has been outstanding since arriving at Old Trafford from Sporting in January 2020.
Fernandes has won the EFL Cup and the FA Cup during his time with the Red Devils so far, registering 106 goals and 107 assists in 324 appearances to date. The Portuguese has already won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year Award four times, and given his form this campaign, is likely to pick up his fifth award this year.
Consistent under every manager
Fernandes is perhaps the only player who has maintained his standards at United despite a series of managerial upheavals. Brought to the Theatre of Dreams by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Portuguese soon became a household name, and famously registered 28 goals and 17 assists in 58 games in the 2020/21 campaign.
Fernandes maintained his high standards under the Norwegian’s temporary replacement Ralf Rangnick and his successor, Erik ten Hag. The Dutch manager handed him the armband in the summer of 2023, although the Portuguese had been leading the front since his first day at the club.
The arrival of Ruben Amorim saw Fernandes face a new challenge, especially after he was deployed in a midfield pivot alongside Casemiro during the first half of this season. However, United’s captain fantastic managed to dictate terms from a deeper role as well.
Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, though, was abandoned at the turn of this year, when he lost his job. Darren Fletcher was put in interim charge, before Michael Carrick arrived as caretaker manager and reinstated Fernandes in the No. 10 role.
The Portuguese has been at the peak of his creative powers under the Englishman, having also briefly played under him after Solskjaer’s departure in 2021. Former United midfielder Scholes believes that one of the reasons for Fernandes’ resurgence under Carrick is because he is operating in a position that gets the best out of him.
Bruno Fernandes Stats under various managers at United
| Manager | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Carrick | 17 | 4 | 13 | 4 | - | 1,463' |
| Darren Fletcher | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | 151' |
| Ruben Amorim | 58 | 20 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 5,054' |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | 4 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 360' |
| Erik ten Hag | 120 | 29 | 33 | 25 | 2 | 10,490' |
| Ralf Rangnick | 26 | 5 | 5 | 6 | - | 2,269' |
| Ole Gunnar Solskjaer | 97 | 44 | 33 | 13 | - | 7,806' |
| Total | 324 | 106 | 107 | 55 | 3 | 27,593' |
Source: Transfermarkt.
United could do with another Bruno Fernandes
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes insisted that everything good about United goes through Fernandes. He said: “He’s a different level from anything United have got. Everything United do good is through him.”
“Whether he’s a centre midfielder or the No 10. Like, I think he’s a No 10 all day long. As we talk about [Martin] Odegaard, Odegaard should be that type of player for Arsenal and he isn’t doing it.”
The legendary midfielder went on to argue that United have needed two players like Fernandes in the team for a while, one in midfield and one in the No. 10 position. He said: “I think United over the last couple of years have probably needed ‘two Brunos’.”
“One to be that midfield player to get them playing football and one to be the No 10 to do the rest of it. But that assist record is just ridiculous.”
Final Thoughts
Fernandes will enter the final year of his contract this summer, but has already suggested that he wants to continue his association with United. The Portuguese magician’s renewal should be one of the Red Devils’ priorities this year, and they must also recruit a midfielder this summer who can replicate his passing ability.
Bruno Fernandes has created more chances in the Premier League this season (120) than any other Manchester United player ever has on record.
Peerless playmaker. 🔝🔝🔝 pic.twitter.com/CQ7UaZ4js7
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 6, 2026
Featured image by Michael Regan/Getty Images
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