Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has become a household name since arriving at Old Trafford in 2020. The Portuguese midfielder has set the benchmark for creativity in football in recent years and has etched his name into Premier League history this year.
When Fernandes set up Patrick Dorgu to score the first goal in the Red Devils’ 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, he picked up his 21st league assist of the season. In the process, he broke the previous record for most assists in a single Premier League campaign (20), set by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
The Portuguese’s achievement is a testament to his world-class abilities, and it is even more impressive because he played the first half of the season in a deeper role. The 31 year old has consistently been United’s best player since his arrival and has been the catalyst for their impressive rise under Michael Carrick this season.
It is no wonder, then, that Fernandes’ efforts have been widely recognised this campaign. He has won the Premier League Player of the Season, the FWA Footballer of the Year, Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and United Players’ Player of the Year.
Fernandes’ career in a nutshell
Fernandes rose through the ranks at Porto-based club Boavista before moving to Italian club Novara in 2012 and making his senior debut. A year later, he was signed by Udinese, where he spent three seasons.
After a loan spell with Sampdoria, the Portuguese moved to Sporting in 2017, where he caught the eye of United scouts. Since arriving at the Theatre of Dreams, Fernandes has registered 107 goals and 108 assists in 327 games.
Fernandes will enter the final year of his contract this summer and is yet to sign a new deal, so his future remains uncertain. This season, the Red Devils skipper has registered nine goals and 22 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions, all but one of which have been starts.
Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 35 | 35 | 9 | 21 | 5 | - | 3,068' |
| FA Cup | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 90' |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 45' |
| Total | 37 | 36 | 9 | 22 | 5 | - | 3,203' |
Source: Transfermarkt.
The Portuguese is only the third player after Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney to register 100 goals and 100 assists for the Premier League giants. However, he could have started his career at a different English club had things turned out differently.
United skipper was inches away from joining Watford
Speaking on The Diary of a CEO, Fernandes revealed that he was close to joining Watford on loan in 2013 as a teenager. He said: “I was on the edge of coming to Watford on loan, because it’s the same owners. We were getting to the edge of the transfer window. They [Udinese] had just bought me and obviously they had a big squad of players.”
“They were like, ‘We’re going to send you to Watford, you’re going to be there playing for them.’ I was like, ‘What have I done? I wasn’t good enough?’ They called me to the hotel to pack my stuff, because it was the last days of the window. I packed my stuff.”
“I was with my girlfriend and she was like, ‘Don’t worry, we’re going to go anywhere else and you’re going to succeed’. And I said, ‘But why can’t I make it here? What did I do wrong?’ Why is the manager [Francesco Guidolin] not looking at me the same and looking at other players?”
“In my head I was like, ‘Have I done something wrong?’ I have not showed my full potential, I have not shown that I’m good enough to be in this team. And I don’t know why, but in the middle of all this the sporting director [Giaretta] called me again.”
“He said, ‘Bruno, you can’t go anymore. The manager wants you to stay. He says he loves you, he loves your attitude. He wants you to learn from him and understand how he wants to play. He says you might not play much this season but he’s pretty sure you are the type of player who will succeed at this club.’ Then we had many conversations and he was so good for me. He [Guidolin] was like a father figure.”
Final Thoughts
United have been on an upward trajectory since Carrick’s arrival, and the right investments this summer could further improve their chances of silverware next season. With Fernandes leading the charge in his preferred No. 10 role, the Red Devils could even hit a higher gear, so INEOS must do everything possible to tie him down to a new deal.
Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
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