{"id":262303,"date":"2026-09-12T19:35:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T19:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/12\/hes-outshining-bruno-man-utds-100m-player-belongs-in-the-fergie-era\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T19:35:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T19:35:11","slug":"hes-outshining-bruno-man-utds-100m-player-belongs-in-the-fergie-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/12\/hes-outshining-bruno-man-utds-100m-player-belongs-in-the-fergie-era\/","title":{"rendered":"He’s outshining Bruno: Man Utd’s “\u00a3100m player” belongs in the Fergie era"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Let\u2019s face it, Bruno Fernandes<\/a> was far from at his best on the opening weekend, the Manchester United<\/a> skipper perhaps suffering from a lack of pre-season minutes.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

There was fear that it might take a while for the 31-year-old to get up to speed following his World Cup commitments, having suffered as much two years ago.<\/p>\n

Indeed, following the last Euros, Fernandes was a real slow starter in 2024\/25, taking until November, and the arrival of interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, to score his first Premier League goal of that season.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Thankfully, there\u2019s been no such woes this time around, even if he might not actually be the star of United\u2019s campaign so far.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Fernandes continues to make Amorim look silly<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Last season, for all the chaos, was arguably the best of Fernandes\u2019 time at Old Trafford so far, the playmaker recording a record-breaking tally of Premier League assists.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Bruno-Fernandes-Manchester-United\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

He hadn\u2019t exactly been off the boil under Ruben Amorim in the first half of the campaign, although the ex-Sporting CP man truly came alive with Michael Carrick in the dugout.<\/p>\n

The difference? Well, the shift to a 4-2-3-1 has, surprise surprise, seen Fernandes get back to his best again, with Amorim\u2019s use of him in a deep-lying role still looking particularly egregious.<\/p>\n

Amorim, alongside Fernandes\u2019 wife, appear to have been integral in tempting the skipper to stay a year ago, but the now AC Milan manager\u2019s tactics simply did not play to the strengths of this team\u2019s best player.<\/p>\n

38 goals and assists were recorded regardless in 2024\/25, but that speaks more to Fernandes\u2019 single-mindedness than the suitability of that much-maligned 3-4-2-1 system.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Bruno-Fernandes-24-25-stats-timeless\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Now far closer to goal, even spearheading the attack at times, the \u00a3300k-per-week<\/a> maestro has been immense, with four goals already chalked up this season.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s in a rich vein of form again, and he\u2019s not alone in that regard.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Man Utd star would have thrived under Fergie<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

There\u2019s so often a debate about where Fernandes ranks with regard to the greats of United\u2019s recent past, as too whether he would fit into Sir Alex Ferguson\u2019s fabled sides of the Premier League era.<\/p>\n