Bruno Fernandes poised for Man Utd honour Ronaldo never had after Saudi snub

Bruno Fernandes only has eyes for Manchester United ahead of the new season, according to reports, with the Portuguese on the verge of a new career high due to the vacant captain’s armband under Erik ten Hag. Offers from the Saudi Pro League, and the prospect of joining up with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, have so far proven incapable of turning his head.

Fernandes has been one of United’s most consistent performers since signing from Sporting Lisbon in 2020. An impressive haul of 64 goals in 185 matches from midfield is unlikely to see his spot in Ten Hag’s starting XI come under threat any time soon.

In fact, the 28-year-old’s standing at Old Trafford could go up a notch after Harry Maguire revealed over the weekend that he had been stripped of the captaincy following talks with the boss.

Having fulfilled the role of stand-in skipper for much of last season while Maguire collected dust on the bench, Fernandes is the red-hot favourite to assume the role on a permanent basis.

Doing so would see him accomplish a feat that even five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo never managed across two separate stints at Old Trafford. The Al-Nassr forward made well over 350 appearances for the Red Devils, and at no point was he named the permanent captain.

Roy Keane and Gary Neville held the armband during Ronaldo’s first spell at United, while Maguire was still the skipper for his short-lived second, which was reportedly a source of tension in the dressing room.

Marcus Rashford has the advantage of red-hot form and a boyhood connection to the club, which he has just committed his future to with a bumper new contract on the verge of being finalised.

Casemiro, meanwhile, has a gleaming silverware cabinet and a ruthless mentality on the pitch, with sections of the fanbase sure to be in favour of the Brazilian getting the armband ahead of Fernandes, even though it would require a bold U-turn from Ten Hag.