Bruno Fernandes: How the Manchester United captain set a new Premier League assist record in legacy-defining campaign
Bruno Fernandes has set a new assist record in the Premier League, beating Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne's total of 20; Sky Sports News' Danyal Khan deep dives into the Man Utd captain's legacy campaign and looks at his future at Old Trafford
Sunday 24 May 2026 17:21, UK
'We don't talk about Bruno…'
If you know it, the quote is from a famous song lyric in the children's movie Encanto.
But I will always remember it now with a bit of irony because for as long as his new record lasts, at least, we will talk about Bruno… the same Bruno Fernandes who is the Football Writer's Association and Premier League Player of the season.
The Manchester United captain has etched his name into Premier League history after becoming the single-season assist record-holder.
It was a record that had lasted 23 years, set by Thierry Henry and matched by Kevin De Bruyne in 2020.
But what is the story behind a perhaps legacy-defining season for Fernandes?
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Bruno the magician
Fernandes is like a magician on the pitch. Having watched him up close all season, he has produced moments that usually only belong to the imagination.
A personal favourite was his assist for Benjamin Sesko's winner against Fulham. He finds himself on the right-hand side in the 94th minute of the game, turns Calvin Bassey and, with the ball still rolling ahead of him, whips it first time into the box.
If he puts the ball in front of Sesko, Joachim Andersen intercepts it. However, the placement of the ball, while Fernandes is falling as Bassey closes him down, is inch-perfect on Sesko's back foot, which allows him a touch and finish. Like magic.
Some may point to the number of set-pieces on Fernandes' way to writing a new chapter, but I would invite anyone who doubts his quality to re-watch some of the moments of the season.
A first-time volleyed cross to set up Harry Maguire's winner at Anfield - for Man Utd's first win there in almost a decade - or his assist to set up Bryan Mbeumo against Manchester City in Michael Carrick's first game in charge, where the great Henry dubbed Fernandes 'Braino-Fernandes' are just two examples. But I could go on.
Magicians, though, are also known for their disappearing acts.
It would have been somewhat understandable if Fernandes' form had dipped halfway through the season when the club sacked Ruben Amorim in January. Fernandes shared a close relationship with Amorim and his staff, and he undoubtedly felt the impact of their departures.
Perhaps timing was everything at that point. Fernandes was injured when Amorim left the club and by the time he returned, United were close to appointing Carrick until the end of the season. Carrick was a man who Fernandes had previously spoken highly of and has massive respect for.
Fernandes had seven assists when Amorim departed United, but since Carrick's arrival and a return to his favoured No 10 position, Fernandes has gone from strength to strength.
Carrick and Fernandes share a certain closeness that is noticeable around the training ground and has undoubtedly helped settle United's talisman after a chaotic summer and first half of the season.
This magician did not disappear, but instead upped his game when his team needed him most, when his team were perhaps at their lowest.
Bruno the competitor
Fernandes is often seen on the pitch gesturing and animated towards his team-mates, opponents or at times, referees - the word 'competitive' feels a fair description.
But even off the pitch, Fernandes is just as ferocious with his team-mates. He regularly enjoys playing the role of narrator for the social card game Werewolf with his team-mates and is also understood to be highly skilled at the game of Uno - not many beat the United captain.
But on a more serious note, the example Fernandes sets off the pitch for those around him is something many around Carrington have noted.
For example, when any academy players join first-team training for the first time, the United captain will always walk with them and make the effort to make them as comfortable as possible.
Highly-rated youngsters Jim Thwaites and Dan Armer recently told the Manchester Evening News that Fernandes will often take them to one side and offer words of encouragement, while also having a laugh with the academy players to help them feel more relaxed around the first team.
Fernandes' competitiveness and high standards are clear to those around him as captain, but it was also evident to those at Carrington when he first arrived at the club in 2020.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's coaching staff when Fernandes arrived from Sporting and he reflected on what his most outstanding attribute is.
"His commitment to his profession is really in the top, top, top tier of any player in the world," McKenna said.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is really well known for how outstanding and professional he is, but Bruno is right along those streets in terms of how he prepares every morning, how he gets ready for training, how he avoids injuries with all the work he does in the gym, how he trains every day, how he recovers from training and makes himself available for every game.
"You don't get that level of robustness and play that level of games without being really an outstanding professional so, for me, the work he does behind the scenes, the professionalism he shows behind the scenes to be available for every session and every game is really absolutely world class."
Fernandes' future at Old Trafford
Carrick has said Fernandes' future will be on the agenda in the coming months.
But after he won the Premier League Player of the Season award, Fernandes gave the biggest hint yet that his future remains at Old Trafford when he addressed team-mates in a video that posted on Manchester United's social media: "Next season is going to be the biggest challenge for us and I'm very happy that I will be part of that with you guys."
There are two sides to the story about what happened last summer.
Fernandes felt like the club were more than open to his potential sale at around £100m to Saudi club Al Hilal last June, whereas there are arguments from Carrington that it was never the case.
In the end, Fernandes decided to stay after Amorim made it clear to him he was central to his plans for the upcoming season.
Having spoken to fans around Old Trafford all season, the decision to stay after the torturous season United endured last season has made the affectionate 'Brunooooo' chants at home games even louder, a sentiment former United captain Gary Neville agrees with.
Neville told me: "He was always very popular with Manchester United fans but when he turned down leaving last summer - that's a big moment - it's easy to jump ship when things aren't going well for him to stay, he's gone up in my estimations and United fans more than he did already."
Despite Fernandes feeling like the club were open to selling him last summer, there could not be a clearer message from United's hierarchy to him in the upcoming transfer window.
He is not for sale.
A stance that the United hierarchy have made clear to Fernandes throughout the season.
At 31, it remains to be seen whether clubs outside of England will look to activate the £56m release clause in his contract and test United and Fernandes' resolve, but if there was any ambiguity or confusion from last summer, that has been put to bed ahead of the coming window.
With United expected to have a substantial window in terms of reinforcements, Fernandes' own ambitions may finally be matched in terms of competing higher up the table and in the Champions League.
Until then, Fernandes' future will still be debated, speculated upon and to a degree, uncertain.
