Fifty-six days ago even the greatest spin doctor could not come to Manchester United’s aid.
You see, that day Bruno Fernandes, the captain of Manchester United, the heartbeat of the team, the man who organises team-bonding dinners, who helps the academy players, who is first to stick his hand up for charity endeavours, claimed the higher-ups at United were ready to wave him off amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
‘I would have won many trophies this season, but I decided not to go, not only for family reasons but because I genuinely love the club,’ Fernandes told Portugal’s Canal 11. ‘The club wanted me to leave. I told the directors that, I think, they didn’t have the courage to make that decision because the manager wanted me.’
Now we’re here, Manchester United three points off third place after four wins in a row and Fernandes at 200 Premier League goal contributions (104 goals, 96 assists) while also leading the league this season in assists (12), chances created (74), big chances created (17) and through-balls (22).
To be blunt, selling Fernandes would not just be professional malpractice, it would be the worst decision Ineos have ever made since walking through the doors at United. It simply cannot be allowed to happen under any circumstance.
United sources made the noises you would expect after that blockbuster Fernandes interview, which had been filmed in November. We have no interest in selling him, they said. He’s a big part of our future, they added. Par for the course but the repercussions of Fernandes’ words are still lingering as the club hurtle towards another summer where his future will again be front and centre of the agenda.
Bruno Fernandes has 200 Premier League goal contributions while also leading the league in assists (12), chances created (74), big chances created (17) and through-balls (22)
He was man of the match after victory over Tottenham at the weekend
Who wanted him gone? Jason Wilcox or Omar Berrada? Sir Jim Ratcliffe? And why? Who in their right mind felt comfortable enough to wave goodbye to not just the captain but also the best midfielder in the Premier League?
Privately agents were being told that United would have a windfall of money to play with as the expectation of Fernandes’ exit loomed large last summer. The money men had rationalised that it would not have been the worst thing should the 31-year-old, who has a contract until 2027 with the option of a further year, depart.
‘Everything happens when he has the ball,’ Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola once said of Fernandes. ‘The influence of Bruno on that team is outstanding, unbelievable… I always said this guy has creativity which is one of the best I have ever seen.’
That’s the thing about Fernandes, his fingerprints are on absolutely everything when it comes to United. In the lunchtime win over Tottenham Hotspur he scored the second goal to ice the game after starting off the move for the first. By the time fans had gone home and it was only players left inside Old Trafford, Fernandes turned into a photographer for team-mate Senne Lammens and his friends.
A week earlier it was he who teed up Benjamin Sesko’s winner to see off Fulham, having kickstarted that match with an assist for Casemiro. He’s a production machine.
At training he’s a model of consistency and takes it upon himself to help and nurture academy players that are in the session. The likes of Jack Moorhouse, Harry Amass and Shea Lacey have all benefitted immensely from his day-to-day wisdom.
Even when he recently suffered an injury – a word so alien to him he may need reminding of its definition – Fernandes was present at each training session, even if only on a watching brief.
Who wanted Fernandes gone? Jason Wilcox (right) or Omar Berrada (centre)? Sir Jim Ratcliffe? And why?
It was Fernandes who teed up Benjamin Sesko’s winner to see off Fulham, having kickstarted that match with an assist for Casemiro
‘He’s the guy that is watching training even after treatment. He’s going there,’ Ruben Amorim explained. ‘I don’t know if he wants my job or not, but he’s a leader! He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he’s not talking and speaking. He’s always speaking. That’s why he’s the captain.
‘There are a lot of things that you don’t see that he does. He’s a great leader all the time.’
Fernandes draws plenty of parallels to Guardiola in the sense that both live and breathe football day and night. Where Guardiola likes to watch Vanarama National League matches in his office, Fernandes routinely watches matches on his phone while United travel to games.
There was recently an instance where his United team-mates were relaxing on a journey and Fernandes was studying a Portugal Under 19s match. To many at United he is a manager in waiting once his playing days are over.
On the pitch, too, Fernandes’ mentorship is ever-present. Whether he’s pointing out a run he wanted Amad Diallo to make, or educating Sesko of the position he needs to run into. Fernandes is two or three steps ahead all the time which is why he is as influential as he is.
Many of those elements are intangible to fans and so let’s just judge him on what he’s producing right now. In this moment he’s the league’s best player and another Premier League Player of the Year trophy is inbound on this current trajectory.
Fernandes has had a hand in 12 goals in his last 14 league games and has created 74 chances this season. Arsenal’s set-piece maestro Declan Rice is second with 47.
There are special players in the Premier League and City’s Rayan Cherki is chief among them; a magician with the ball at his feet. Twice this season Cherki has created five or more chances in a league game. Now guess how many times Fernandes has created five or more chances in a game? Eight. Truly in a league of his own.
Fernandes is often seen educating Sesko about the position he needs to run into
The idea that £100million – or less if reports of a release clause are to be believed – is enough to replace the genius, the leadership and the production of Fernandes is laughable
‘I hope you’ll hear less about Bruno this year, but a lot more about United,’ he told ESPN Brazil at the start of the season.
‘That’s my main objective because my name being spoken, let’s say vaguely alone, it doesn’t fill me with pride or anything. United being talked about, being positive, that’s the most important thing and that’s what I want for this season. If it happens that Bruno has to score fewer goals, provide less assists or do another type of provision of what is necessary for the games, I would be very happy.”
The idea that £100million – or less if reports of a release clause are to be believed – is enough to replace the genius, the leadership and the production of Fernandes is laughable. Replace by committee, potentially, but it’s a monumental gamble if Ineos decide to do it.
Ineos have made lots of expensive mistakes since taking the reins at United, from appointing and then dismissing Dan Ashworth, sticking with and backing Erik ten Hag and then dismissing him, and appointing and ultimately firing Ruben Amorim, but allowing Fernandes to walk out the door would be the most idiotic and egregious of the lot.
