Exciting news for Manchester United and their fans! Bruno Fernandes has officially been named the new captain of the club, replacing Harry Maguire.
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The decision to hand Fernandes the captaincy on a permanent basis was made by coach Erik Ten Hag.
With this new role, Fernandes will lead the team for the remainder of the season, unless he faces suspension or injury, which would prevent him from being on the field.
Interestingly, Fernandes actually first had the chance to wear the captain’s armband nearly three years ago during a match against Paris Saint-Germain.
However, it was when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer announced his promotion as the club’s captain that Fernandes displayed a moment of surprise, evident by his wide-eyed expression and arched eyebrow.
Nonetheless, since then, Fernandes has settled into the role and has been the de facto captain for Manchester United for almost a year. During this time, he has played a vital role in the team’s revival, showcasing his leadership qualities both on and off the pitch.
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As the new official captain, Bruno Fernandes is expected to continue inspiring and guiding the team, driving them towards success in their matches and contributing to Manchester United’s ongoing resurgence.
His dedication, playmaking abilities, and passion for the club will undoubtedly make him an excellent leader for the squad. The fans will surely be looking forward to seeing him excel in this new role.
Why Ten Hag Gave the captaincy to Bruno
Bruno Fernandes has been instrumental Thier sunsiquent games. The few times he captained the team in few matches, he always makes impact.
Fernandes skippered United 42 times out of a possible 62 games in 2022-23, including in both domestic cup finals.
The game was up for Harry Maguire long before his cameo at Wembley in the League Cup final just so he was kit-ready for the trophy presentation.
Fernandes, also led United out for Ten Hag’s first match in charge in the pre-season friendly thrashing of Liverpool in Bangkok last July. They jointly and sheepishly clutched the Bangkok Century Cup and a bond was quickly forged.
Fernandes was the inevitable choice. He led United impeccably last season, bar an aberration at Anfield where he bickered with club staff over a substitution, despaired at a linesman and downed tools in a 7-0 thrashing.
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Otherwise, Fernandes aided United’s revival from three different roles. Wherever he played, he tended to have an impact and his performance level was his most consistent. Unlike under Solskjaer, Fernandes’s goals and assists did not mask his overall displays.
United sources said Ten Hag chose Fernandes because of his commitment to the highest standards he demands of himself and from the rest of the squad.
Ten Hag felt Fernandes had proven himself to be an outstanding leader throughout his time at United and was the obvious choice for the role.
The 28-year-old captained United 45 times last season and was handed the role on a permanent basis after a meeting with Ten Hag.
Fernandes has scored 64 goals and produced 54 assists in 185 games since joining United in January 2020 from Sporting Lisbon for £47million.
Ten Hag felt Fernandes had proven himself to be an outstanding leader throughout his time at United and was the obvious choice for the role.
In making the decision, Ten Hag is said to have been impressed with inspirational qualities of Fernandes on and off the field, as well as his knowledge of the game and strength as a communicator.
Harry Maguire, captain for three years at united
Harry Maguire assumed the role of club captain for Manchester United in January 2020, succeeding Ashley Young. He continued to lead the team until July 2023.
His journey with the club began in 2019, when he made a remarkable move for a world-record fee of £80 million, making him the most expensive defender in history.
Within a mere six months of joining Manchester United, Maguire was entrusted with the captain’s armband by then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, following Ashley Young’s departure.
Under Maguire’s captaincy, the team thrived for three-and-a-half years, displaying his remarkable leadership skills.
Despite the immense pressure that came with the hefty price tag, Maguire handled the scrutiny with mixed success. Nonetheless, his commanding presence on the field earned him the respect of his teammates and the fans.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s decision to appoint him captain was influenced by Maguire’s natural leadership abilities. Even before being officially named captain, Maguire had led the team on 20 occasions during the first half of the season. Solskjaer praised his leadership skills, solidifying the trust placed in him to carry the armband.
Maguire continued to hold the captaincy despite the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, which reportedly caused some tensions within the Old Trafford dressing room. Nevertheless, Maguire’s dedication and commitment to the club ensured his continued role as captain until July 2023.
Bruno’s performances since joining the club
Bruno Fernandes, the talented Portuguese footballer, is currently the captain of Premier League club Manchester United and a key player for the Portuguese national team.
Revered as one of the finest midfielders worldwide, he is renowned for his exceptional passing, playmaking abilities, penalty-taking skills, and relentless work rate on the field.
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Manchester United’s pursuit of Fernandes from Sporting was confirmed on 29th January 2020, with the transfer fee reportedly reaching up to €80 million (£67.6 million), pending a successful medical and personal terms agreement.
The deal was officially sealed the following day for an initial sum of approximately €55 million (£47 million), with potential add-ons of up to €25 million (£21 million) and 10% of profits in case of a future sale. Fernandes inked a five-and-a-half-year contract with the club.
Making his debut on 1st February, Fernandes played the full 90 minutes in a goalless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He quickly showcased his impact, providing an assist for Harry Maguire’s header in Manchester United’s 2-0 away victory over Chelsea on 17th February.
During his European debut for the club against Club Brugge, Fernandes appeared as a late substitute in a 1-1 draw. He secured his first goal for Manchester United against Watford on 23rd February, converting a penalty in their 3-0 triumph at Old Trafford, while also assisting Mason Greenwood’s third goal.
His first European goal for the club came during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 tie against Club Brugge at Old Trafford, where he scored a penalty to help the team secure a resounding 5-0 victory.
Fernandes’ outstanding performances did not go unnoticed, as he was deservedly named the Premier League Player of the Month for February.
He continued to shine, scoring his first brace for Manchester United in a 3-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion on 30th June, earning him multiple club and Premier League awards, including both the Premier League Player of the Month and Goal of the Month – an unprecedented achievement in Premier League history.
He also became the first Manchester United player since Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2006/07 season to win back-to-back Player of the Month awards.
In September, Fernandes was honored with the prestigious Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the club in the previous season.
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On 14th August 2021, in the opening match of the Premier League season, Fernandes showcased his brilliance with a hat-trick against Leeds United in a commanding 5-1 victory.
He followed this up by scoring a powerful shot from 25 yards against Newcastle United in their next home game, but was unfortunate to miss a last-minute penalty against Aston Villa two weeks later that could have salvaged a 1-1 draw. He publicly apologized for the penalty miss on Instagram.
Fernandes continued to make history, providing an assist for Jadon Sancho in Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Villarreal in the Champions League on 23rd November.
With this assist, he became the first player to achieve five consecutive assists in a Champions League campaign for an English club.
On 2nd December, Fernandes celebrated his 100th appearance for the club by scoring the opening goal in a thrilling 3-2 home win against rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Amidst his impressive performances, Fernandes reaffirmed his commitment to Manchester United by signing a new contract on 1st April 2022, extending his stay until June 2026, with the option of an additional year.
On 2nd May, he reached a milestone by scoring his 50th goal for Manchester United in their 3-0 home triumph over Brentford. His contributions continue to make him an indispensable asset to the club and an adored figure among the fans.
His performances declined during the season, with Fernandes alongside his teammates struggling and under-performing and with United supporters becoming increasingly frustrated by Fernandes’ complaints to referees during matches, and with the club finishing a disappointing sixth place, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League, despite Fernandes being the top assist provider in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League with 7 assists in total.
On 1st July, Manchester United announced that they had changed Fernandes’ squad number from 18 to his preferred number 8, the same number he wore during his time for Sporting CP and as a tribute to his birth date and his father, upon the departure of Juan Mata, after his contract expired.
Fernandes scored his first goal of the season on 27th August 2022, volleying in the only goal in a 1:0 away win at Southampton.
On 3rd January 2023, Fernandes made his 150th appearance for the club, assisting Marcus Rashford goal in United’s 3:0 home win over Bournemouth.
Two weeks later, Fernandes scored and provided an assist in a 2:1 comeback win over rivals Manchester City in the Manchester Derby, helping United to extend their winning run to nine in all competitions.
On 18th January, Fernandes became the Manchester United midfielder to register the second most goal contributions in the Premier League, behind Paul Scholes, after scoring in United’s 1:1 draw to Crystal Palace, registering his 100th goal contribution for the club.
On 26th February, Fernandes started in the 2023 EFL Cup final as Manchester United beat Newcastle United 2:0 at Wembley Stadium, winning his first trophy with the club.
On 20th July 2023 (yesterday), Fernandes was named as Harry Maguire’s replacement as club captain.
