It’s not exactly been vintage Bruno Fernandes so far this season, although the Manchester United skipper is likely still getting up to speed following his World Cup exploits.
Following Euro 2024, for instance, the Portuguese suffered a clear hangover as he took until November to score his first Premier League goal, embarking on a dry spell that perhaps played its part in Erik ten Hag’s early-season dismissal.
Michael Carrick, now under scrutiny himself at Old Trafford, could do without a repeat, with United in need of their captain to up his game when Tottenham Hotspur come to town next week.
Assessing Bruno Fernandes’ start to the season
Nothing came off against Hull City for the 32-year-old, yet Fernandes followed that up with a glowing performance against Ipswich Town, netting a hat-trick in that thumping 5-2 win over the newly-promoted side.
The man who broke records last year also opened his assist account with a delightful dinked pass over the top for Bryan Mbeumo, producing a moment of magic fitting of the PFA Player of the Year.
He subsequently struck the woodwork against Everton early on, prior to prodding home to make it 2-0 over Sabah, while even in his late cameo appearance against Brighton and Hove Albion, Fernandes still teed up Rashford late on for a gilt-edged chance.
The former Sporting CP star isn’t controlling games as one might hope, but his creative streak is still shining through, ranking joint-second, alongside Marcus Rashford, for chances created in the Premier League (13).
Even while not at his best, Fernandes is still United’s difference-maker, as he is for his country too.
How Fernandes has performed on international duty
The Manchester City saga has certainly overshadowed events on the international stage over the past week or so, with Nations League action getting a little lost, it must be said.
On any other week, Cristiano Ronaldo’s swift exit from the Portugal camp would have been front-page news, the 41-year-old walking away after remaining an unused substitute in the win over Norway, despite starting previously against Wales.
That high-profile departure has since seen Fernandes handed the captaincy instead, the midfield maestro subsequently shining in the 4-2 victory over Denmark.
That outing against Rasmus Hojlund and co saw the skipper register two assists, create three ‘big chances’ and rack up five key passes, easing any potential injury concerns after he’d sat out the Norway clash.
He was Portugal’s creative hub again in that fixture, as he has been for so long back in Manchester. He could do with some help in that regard, undoubtedly.
How Man Utd can ease Fernandes’ creative burden
No one likes to throw around the term ‘one-man team’, although in a creative sense at the very least, United certainly felt like that at times last season.
|
Man Utd – PL Assists 25/26 |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Assists |
|
Fernandes |
21 |
|
Dorgu |
4 |
|
Amad |
3 |
|
Dalot |
3 |
|
Mbeumo |
3 |
|
Casemiro |
2 |
|
Cunha |
2 |
|
Maguire |
2 |
|
Mainoo |
2 |
It says it all that while Fernandes embarked on his record-breaking haul of 21 league assists, the man in second on that list back at Old Trafford was Patrick Dorgu with just four assists.
In terms of ‘big chances’ created too, Fernandes racked up 33, significantly ahead of Amad in second (seven). For key passes per game, meanwhile, the captain’s 3.9 per game average dwarfed Bryan Mbeumo in second place (1.4).
He needs help, hence why pursuing a move for RB Leipzig’s David Raum would be a wise bet, the flying full-back such a weapon from the flanks.
As per TEAMtalk, the 28-year-old is said to have said yes to a move to Manchester after giving the deal the ‘green light’, with there an agreement there to be struck considering he is out of contract next summer.
That looming expiry ensures that the former Hoffenheim man could be available for as little as £30m in January, a relative bargain at a time when United desperately need cover and competition for Luke Shaw at left-back.
He is, in the view of talent scout Jacek Kulig he is “one of the best wing-backs in Europe“, such a terror in terms of what he offers in a creative sense.
Even while not operating in a truly advanced role, he is almost Fernandes-esque in the quality service he so regularly supplies, having led the way in the Bundesliga so far this season for chances created (17).
That’s a remarkable return for a full-back, as is his standout average of 4.3 key passes per game, ensuring he’s even ahead of what Fernandes achieved in that sense across 2025/26.
It’s so early into the new season, of course, yet Raum has long been showing his class in German football, having registered seven Bundesliga assists last term, while creating 22 ‘big chances’ and averaging 3.3 key passes.
That record is perhaps aided by set-piece delivery, although Fernandes has been a weapon in that sense too of late, forming a deadly combination with Casemiro earlier this year.
There has been a feeling, as the gulf in terms of assists showcased last season, that if it isn’t Fernandes creating chances, then there is no one else there to step up to the plate.
With Raum onboard, however, that dynamic could well be altered.