Bruno Fernandes: United skipper wins season’s fourth Premier League award

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The Peoples Person

·3 mars 2026

Bruno Fernandes: United skipper wins season’s fourth Premier League award

For Manchester United fans, Bruno Fernandes is a gift that keeps on giving. The Portuguese maestro arrived at Old Trafford just over six years ago, and it is safe to say that he has been one of the Red Devils’ best signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Intelligent, creative, and hardly ever injured, Fernandes has been the main man at the Theatre of Dreams for the while. The £47 million that the Premier League giants reportedly paid Sporting for him now looks like a bargain. For the last six years, the 31 year old has been United’s saviour, talisman, the one the team has turned to in despair for inspiration.

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Rarely has the Portuguese Magnifico disappointed, and it is now wonder that he has already registered 105 goals and 100 assists from 317 games for the Red Devils to date. Only two other players have managed more than 100 goals and 100 assists each for United in their history – Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs.

Fernandes also has the chance to break David Beckham’s single-season assist record this season. The Portuguese is already an Old Trafford legend and, on Sunday, 1 March, he gave another reminder why he is adored by United fans.

Fernandes’ weekend masterclass

United found themselves a goal down in the fourth minute last weekend at Old Trafford against Crystal Palace, with caretaker manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run in immediate danger. Yet, as the game progressed, Fernandes grew in stature and soon took the game by the scruff of the neck.

First, he unleashed a stunning first-time through-ball to Matheus Cunha, who was brought down in the box. The Portuguese calmly slotted the ball home from the penalty spot to bring his team back into the game.

Fernandes then sent an inch-perfect cross to Benjamin Sesko, who scored the winner, ensuring that the Red Devils finished the weekend in third place in the league table. The Portuguese’s efforts have now earned him another accolade.

Fourth Player of the Matchday this season

Fernandes was voted the Player of the Matchday for the fourth time this season, and is the only player to win the award more than twice this campaign. The Portuguese was among seven players nominated for the prize, which was decided by fan votes on the Premier League’s official website.

Fernandes was elected the overwhelming winner, receiving 54% of the votes, while Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike finished second with 25%. Out of the 28 Player of the Matchday awards this season, 10 have been won by United players, highlighting the team’s rising dominance.

The Portuguese is the only player to have won the award four times this season, with Dorgu and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo the only players to have lifted the award twice. Early signs suggest that Fernandes could be the frontrunner for the Premier League’s Player of the Season award.

United winners of Player of the Matchweek Award: 2025/26 Season

Ready for Newcastle United

Speaking to Premier League Productions, Fernandes also acknowledged that United will have to be at their best for Wednesday’s trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United in the Premier League. He said: “It’s very tough to play away at Newcastle. You know their fans, you know their team. They’re very aggressive, they create a great atmosphere.”

“It’s probably one of the best stadiums in terms of atmosphere to play with. But we are in a good moment, we are in a good run, we have our aims, we want to be at the top, we just got into the top three and it’s going to be a massive game for us to get another win.”

“We just have to focus all our energies because we are not used this season to playing every three days and we haven’t done many times, so we have to recover well, get all the information on board and then go there.”

“And then understanding that the first 10 to 15 minutes of the game normally are chaotic because they create that atmosphere and create that intensity in the game that we need to be prepared for that. And then play our game as we do in every other game.”

Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

Final Thoughts

Fernandes’ contract expires at the end of next season, and while he will turn 32 in September this year, the player has shown no signs of slowing down. The Portuguese remains as decisive as ever for the Red Devils and INEOS should make his renewal a priority this year.