Bruno Fernandes makes Manchester United contract case by setting Premier League record again
It might not have been a successful season for Manchester United, but it has been another one for arguably their most talented player.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBruno Fernandes actually put in one of his worst performances of the campaign as a false nine in the 2-0 win over Brighton at the weekend, though it didn't stop him from setting a Premier League record again.
For the third time in the last four seasons, Fernandes has finished the league campaign as the player who created the most chances across the entirety of it, in what was his latest demonstration of huge importance to this United side.
Even despite United's well-documented struggles on the pitch, Fernandes was at his most creative in recent years. His tally of 114 chances created has only been bettered once by any player across the last four season, by himself, when he notched 119 last season. What is more remarkable is that under Erik ten Hag he is actually creating even more chances on average than he did under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with an average of 3.3 per 90 minutes this season.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdOf course, it doesn't mean he is the best playmaker in the division. Kevin de Bruyne is quite clearly that with 3.6 chances created per 90 in three of the last four seasons, across lower playing time. Yet it proves that Fernandes is not only among the very best, but he is also getting better, particularly given his ability to create so much despite being part of a dysfunctional side.
At a time of great change for the club, Fernandes is proving his worth as their talisman. He has played the third-highest number of minutes out of anyone in the United squad, and would be second on the list if injury hadn't have ruled him out of the matches against Crystal Palace and Arsenal.
It comes at a particularly interesting time, given the continued speculation surrounding him and his long-term future at the club. The Portuguese playmaker hasn't exactly shot down transfer rumours lately and ManchesterWorld revealed last week that Fernandes would be interested in signing a new long-term deal at Old Trafford to put him on similar terms to Marcus Rashford, though United are reluctant to offer the club captain a new lucrative deal as Ineos move to try and reduce overall spending on salaries and limit player power.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdFernandes sought clarity on United's long-term plans in a meeting with senior executives earlier this month in which the player and club underlined their commitment to each other. It is believed there’s little chance of Fernandes leaving this summer, despite interest in his signature.
So while it is understandable that Ineos don't want to rush into offering a long-term deal to a player who is already 29, he has once again made his case to them, by being the shining light in a dark season and leading the way in the Premier League in the process.
If he outshines De Bruyne at Wembley weekend, a new contract will be even harder to ignore.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.