The Manchester United squad has showered Bruno Fernandes with praise as the 30-year-old midfielder scooped up the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award.
It constitutes a record-equalling feat as Fernandes becomes one of only three players, alongside David De Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo, to win the award on four separate occasions.
The club captain is an imperious footballer, on and off the pitch. He sets the standard at Old Trafford as a leader and is unmatched in terms of his positive effect on the team.
This is recognised by fans, who adore the Portuguese international, his manager, who holds his compatriot in even higher esteem, and his teammates, who describe Fernandes as the “heartbeat” of the side.
The club website released a series of interviews with senior players after Fernandes was confirmed to be the Player of the Year with each interviewee delivering a glowing response of their captain.
Casemiro states, “Bruno is the heartbeat of the team. The team plays how he plays and how he wants. If he wants the team to play further forward, if he wants the team to keep possession, the team keeps possession. He is the most important player in the team, especially going forward. He is the player that scores the most, gets the most assists and takes the most risks. He gives absolutely everything. Sometimes things don’t go well for us, but he is always giving his all. I think we must enjoy Bruno. I love playing with him and, of course, it is a pleasure to play alongside him. He scores, he defends, he attacks. He is the figure of United.”
Joshua Zirkzee, signed from Bologna last summer, mirrors the Brazilian midfielder, describing Fernandes’ conduct as “exactly what a captain is supposed to do” – no doubt a reference to the 30-year-old’s support of Zirkzee after a heart-wrenching moment against Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
Defensive starlet Leny Yoro believes Fernandes is a “magician” while fellow youngster Toby Collyer describes him as “the captain for a reason.”
“If I could take one part of his game, it would be his awareness. He just knows everything that’s going on. He can play in one position, but he knows what’s happening in every single part of the pitch. I’ve never seen anything like it, it’s crazy. It’s like a manager on the pitch,” the 21-year-old midfielder states.
Christian Eriksen praises Fernandes’ bravery on the ball – “if you’re in any trouble, you pass the ball to him” – as the Portuguese is the “one who makes everything tick for us.”
“He’s always available, he’s always fit, he’s always really into it, he always wants to win. That goes on to everyone else who is trying to follow up and do something similar.”
Goalkeeper Tom Heaton even reveals he finds Fernandes “frustrating” to train against the captain is “one of those players that can do everything and it’s difficult as a goalkeeper! Especially in and around goal. He can bend it, he can strike through it, he can go round you… he’s top.”
Mason Mount, formerly of Chelsea, reveals he admired Fernandes’ qualities even when playing against him in midfield in a Blues shirt.
“I played against him quite a few times, so I knew what a great player he was and what a game-changer he could be. It was always difficult to play against him because he’s one that will never stop. He’ll keep fighting, keep running, keep tackling. Even when I played against him, I loved that about him”.
Mount further stresses what an important and welcoming figure Fernandes is for new signings, himself included. “When I joined the club, he was unbelievable. I got on so well with him from the get-go. He’s the club captain, so he leads by example on the pitch, off the pitch. He’s a top, top man.”
Evidently, the assessment of Fernandes as the “heartbeat” of the team is almost an understatement. He is the heart, soul, brain, and body of the club; a player who is simply irreplaceable and irreplicable, no matter how much money the Saudi Pro League were prepared to shelve out for the talismanic midfielder.
Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
