BRUNO FERNANDES is in a league of his own – but will he stick around to chase Manchester United’s 2028 title dream?
The Old Trafford skipper deserves to etch his name alongside the many Premier League legends who took home Player of the Year honours despite missing out on the league title.
Bruno Fernandes was unplayable in United’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa on SundayCredit: Getty
The United skipper broke David Beckham’s assist tally and joined Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs in the history booksCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Providing his 16th assist of the season in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa, Fernandes broke David Beckham’s 26-year club record while vitalising United’s Champions League hopes.
His 100th assist in United colours also leaves him just four shy of the Premier League season record of 20 shared by Kevin De Bruyne and .
Sixteen times a player has been crowned the ‘best of the best’ by their peers at the PFA awards, in the same season when a rival team has lifted the ultimate prize.
Henry (2002–03) and De Bruyne (2019–20) both know exactly what it means to be crowned Player of the Year while watching a rival lift the league trophy.
With sitting a comfortable nine points clear of City at the top of the table, is already dominating the MVP debate.
But if Fernandes does pick up what is rightfully his, it will most closely match Steven Gerrard’s feat of winning the 2005-06 individual gong when Jose Mourinho’s cruised to the title.
Whether Fernandes can avoid Gerrard’s fate and actually secure a league winner’s medal, however, remains to be seen.
With the Portuguese magician linked to a summer exit, his future is in doubt.
Matheus Cunha points to Fernandes after the skipper delivered the ‘assist of the season’ to put United 2-1 up on VillaCredit: Getty
Michael Carrick said United ‘don’t want to lose’ FernandesCredit: PA
The 31-year-old star is under contract until next year, with the option of an additional year, and Fernandes has spoken about the appeal of possibly returning to Portugal or Italy to finish his career.
The looming question is whether he will stay the course, hoping to bow out as a champion in 2028—the exact year Ineos has targeted to deliver United’s 14th Premier League crown.
With chasing a record-breaking Quadruple, Fernandes will likely be overshadowed in the race for the league’s top individual prize.
But he can take hope from former Tottenham forward , who won the PFA medal in the same season that United won the Treble in 1998-1999.
Jack Grealish, on loan at Everton from City, might be drawn to vote for him after posting: “Bruno is an absolutely unbelievable footballer man” on Sunday night.
Three months have passed since a “hurt” Fernandes claimed in an interview that the hierarchy wanted to sell him last summer – and cared little for the loyalty he has shown the club.
With Arsenal sitting a comfortable nine points clear of City, Declan Rice is already dominating the MVP debateCredit: Getty Man Utd player ratings vs Aston Villa
BRUNO FERNANDES and Casemiro boosted Manchester United’s Champions League dreams with a 3-1 win over top-five rivals Aston Villa.
Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated the United players from Old Trafford…
Senne Lammens: Lammens was left vulnerable by his defense and failed to produce the kind of performance that would catch the eye of the watching Peter Schmeichel. 6
Diogo Dalot: Dalot combined promising energy with a glaring lack of composure, most notably when he inexplicably skied a point-blank sitter before the break. 6
Harry Maguire: Maguire was a dominant physical presence who effectively nullified Ollie Watkins, even while remaining frustratingly prone to his trademark shakiness. 7
Leny Yoro: Yoro staged a heroic redemption from his previous “disaster-class” with a sensational, last-ditch slide tackle to deny a certain goal. 7
Luke Shaw: Despite being weak for the cross, Shaw likely secured his place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans with several vital, game-saving blocks. 7
Casemiro: The Brazilian legend turned his farewell parade into a masterclass, proving his irreplaceable intelligence as fans pleaded for “one more year.” 8
Kobbie Mainoo: Mainoo snapped out of his recent slump with a display of pure composure, highlighted by a massive, goal-saving challenge inside the box. 7
Amad: The diminutive winger rose highest for a spectacular header that forced a world-class save, though his impact was marred by sloppy distribution. 7
Bruno Fernandes: Fernandes cemented his status as the league’s best No. 10 by shattering David Beckham’s club record with a pair of sublime assists. 9
Matheus Cunha: Cunha’s feisty spirit and clinical finish allowed him to “stick the knife in” Unai Emery with a provocative surfing celebration. 8
Bryan Mbeumo: Mbeumo’s form continues its worrying downward spiral, as he struggled to produce anything memorable beyond winning a single corner. 6
For a deeper dive into each player and SunSport’s take on the subs, check out the .
He said he will not discuss his future until after the 2026 World Cup, as his £350,000 weekly contract expires in 2027.
The midfielder may turn 32 in September but he shows no signs of slowing down.
But Michael Carrick’s words were not that promising post-Villa.
The United head coach said: “In terms of the club and moving forward, it’s difficult for me to get involved in too much of that but Bruno’s definitely not someone we’d want to lose, I can say that.
“The summer and beyond that, it’s difficult for me to kind of go too far with that, but certainly, he’s important for us and he’s definitely not one we would want to lose.”
Fernandes reached 200 goal involvements faster than Cristiano RonaldoCredit: AP Ticket + hotel room for Man Utd games from £175
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United will say goodbye to at the end of this season and it is unimaginable that Fernandes would follow him out the door.
The duo have developed into a lethal set-piece partnership, with Fernandes setting up five of Casemiro’s goals from dead ball situations this season.
With eight games left in the season, Fernandes also joined and as the only players to manage 100 goals and 100 assists for United.
His goal involvements have amount to 25 POINTS for United this season – the same total as his compatriot managed in the 2007-08 campaign en route to winning his Ballon d’Or.
The skipper reached 200 goal club involvements faster than Ronaldo. Quicker than Beckham, Giggs and .
In the Premier League era, only Rooney has hit that mark for the Red Devils in less games.
He arrived in January 2020 to a team in desperate need of a savior, and for six years, he has carried the creative burden alone and topped the charts across the Prem.
He has been the constant through the chaos of seven permanent and interim managerial changes – and their most trusted lieutenant.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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