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Bruno Fernandes remains the central figure for Manchester United, six years after first dazzling fans with an impressive debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Portuguese joined the Red Devils from Sporting in January 2020 and was one of the club’s best signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Now that he is by some distance the club’s talisman, Fernandes is the player who sets the Premier League giants in motion, the player the team turns to when looking for solutions on the pitch. The 31-year-old has registered 103 goals and 97 assists in 312 appearances for the Premier League giants so far and remains indispensable for the first team at the moment.
Fernandes was heavily linked with a departure from Theater of Dreams early this season, but ultimately stayed. However, with the player turning 32 in September and already in the final 18 months of his contract, speculation is rife about his next move.
United’s creator
Fernandes started the season in a deeper role under former head coach Ruben Amorim, but remained as influential as ever. While the trio of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko initially took the spotlight after their arrival in the summer, it quickly became clear that the Portuguese remains United’s main man.
Fernandes continued to pull the strings, justifying his position as one of the most creative players in Europe. Following Amorim’s departure in January and a change in formation, the Red Devils captain was reinstalled in his favored number 10 position and once again performed excellently.
Fernandes has scored an assist in each of his last four appearances and is top of the Premier League assist charts this season. The Portuguese Magnifico has scored five goals and scored a further 11 in 22 league matches.
Bruno Fernandes stats: 2025/26 season
| Competition | Performances | Begins | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards | Minutes played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 20 | 20 | 5 | 10 | 2 | – | 1,718′ |
| FA Cup | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 90′ |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 45′ |
| Total | 22 | 21 | 5 | 11 | 2 | – | 1,853′ |
Source: Transfer market.
It is believed that the key to stopping United is to keep their erratic skipper quiet. However, it now appears that it is no easy feat to keep Fernandes at bay.
Most tackle-resistant player in the Premier League
According to Gradient Sports via Football365Fernandes is the most difficult player to take the ball from in the Premier League. Gradient has compiled a list of the top 10 tackle-proof players in the top flight of English football, rating players based on performance and results and rating them on a scale of 100.
The Portuguese maestro received 87.8 points, which puts him at the top of the list, ahead of Joelinton (87.4) and Ryan Gravenberch (86.7), who make up the top three.
The Premier League’s most tackle-proof players
| Rank | Player | Club | Scoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | 87.8 |
| 2 | Joelinton | Newcastle United | 87.4 |
| 3 | Ryan Gravenberch | Liverpool | 86.7 |
| 4 | John McGinn | Aston Villa | 86.2 |
| 5 | Bruno Guimaraes | Newcastle United | 85.9 |
| 6 | Moses Caicedo | Chelsea | 83.8 |
| 7 | To elect | Crystal Palace | 83.6 |
| 8 | Richarlison | Tottenham Hotspur | 83.2 |
| 9 | Ezri Konsa | Aston Villa | 82.8 |
| 10 | Thierno Barry | Everton | 82.3 |
The report states: “Even if you opt for ‘stop Bruno, stop United’, that is easier said than done.”
“Fernandes may have played a deeper role for most of the season, but even in an unfamiliar position, only four midfielders came out on top with a higher percentage of tackles, and none of them faced more tackles than United’s captain.”
Final thoughts
Bruno Fernandes has a very strong bond with fans, and many would like to see him spend the rest of his career at United. With Casemiro leaving this summer and Harry Maguire’s future also uncertain, the Portuguese’s experience, leadership and world-class abilities could become even more important to the Red Devils.
Bruno Fernandes’ goals and assists were worth 17 points for Manchester United this season. It is the most points won directly by a player in the competition.
And he hasn’t even played in his best position for most of the season. 😳 pic.twitter.com/49h56bSvAQ
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 29, 2026
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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