It has been an utterly shambolic start to the season for Manchester United.
After an embarrassing campaign that saw them finish 15th and miss out on major silverware, United have trudged through the opening weeks of the 2025/26 season under Ruben Amorim. They fell to a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal before drawing 1-1 to Fulham, before taking on League Two outfit Grimsby Town in the second round of the EFL Cup. United conceded two early goals but nevertheless force a penalty shootout thanks to late goals from
Bryan Mbuemo and Harry Maguire, but they were unable to complete the comeback after losing 12-11 in the shootout.
United responded to their defeat by grabbing an early lead against newly promoted side Burnley, but Lyle Foster would even things up after the break for the Clarets. While Mbuemo restored their advantage immediately, Jaidon Anthony would equalize in the 66th minute. But just when Burnley looked set to escape Old Trafford with a point, Anthony conceded a penalty and enabled Bruno Fernandes to slot home the winning goal in the 97th minute.
Born in Maia, Portugal, Fernandes was 18 when he left his homeland for Italy, bouncing around from Novara to Udinese to Sampdoria before returning to Portugal in 2017 and joining Sporting CP. It was here where Fernandes established himself as one of the most formidable attacking midfielders in Europe, winning the Liga Portugal Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019 before eventually joining Manchester United in January 2020 for €55 million plus up to €25 million in add-ons and a 10% resale clause.
“Even when he wasn’t scoring or assisting, he played very well, and after he’d register a goal or assist, he’d afterwards play easier passes. He was a very nice player to play with – he has a wand of a right foot,” admitted Valentin Rosier, who played alongside Fernandes in 2019/20, in an RG interview. “You already know his footballing qualities, but what I like about him, it doesn’t make a difference about who you are. It doesn’t matter if you’re his friend or not; if he wants to tell you something, he will, which is very important for the team.”
Fernandes wasted no time in repaying his transfer fee, emerging as one of United’s best players in the post-SAF era and racking up 99 goals and 86 assists in 294 appearances for the club. Across his five years at the club, he’s helped them reach two UEFA Europa League Finals, win an FA Cup and an EFL Cup, and he has been named the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year in four of the last six seasons and has also had the captain’s armband bestowed upon him. Instead of operating as the #10, he’s now playing in a double pivot alongside Casemiro in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1. But despite this deeper positioning, Fernandes has continued to leave his handprint on proceedings.
Fernandes has been active both on and off the ball, winning possession more times (24) and creating more chances (12) than any player in the Premier League this season, as well as the most chances created from open play (8) and the most shot-creating actions (25). He created the most chances in the Premier League in 2022/23 (119), 2023/24 (114) and 2024/25 (91), and all signs point to him continuing that pattern this season following Kevin De Bruyne’s departure to Napoli. In fact, only Kylian Mbappe has created as many chances in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
Manchester United will be looking to secure their first away Premier League win in six months as they take on Manchester City on September 14 before hosting another Champions League team (Chelsea). In order to come away unscathed from both games, they’ll need Fernandes to be at his best.
