Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes will have his eyes on the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a record-breaking season at Old Trafford. The Portuguese magnifico created history by registering the most assists in the Premier League (21) in a single season, surpassing the previous record (20) held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. Fernandes was the driving force in the Red Devils’ third-place finish in the Premier League last season, registering nine goals and 22 assists in all competitions in total. Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League35359215-3,068′ FA Cup11-1–90′ EFL Cup10—-45′ Total37369225-3,203′ Source: Transfermarkt. The United skipper has consistently been among the goals since arriving at the Theatre of Dreams from Sporting in January 2020. Fernandes has registered 107 goals and 108 assists in 327 games for the English giants, and recently shed light on the secret behind his goalscoring form. Hard work and training Speaking to ESPN, Fernandes insisted that the trick is not to think too much. He said: “It’s about not thinking too much. I think that, obviously, it’s work, it’s training, and also something that has been born with me a bit since my childhood, which has always been one of my attributes, the pass and the shot. But with that came a lot of work.” “I remember my time in Italy, which was difficult for me. In the first year of Udinese, I had been signed from the Italian second league to Novara and I arrive at Udinese thinking that: I was signed for €5 million ($5.8m), which at the time was a lot of money, I’m going to play, I’m going to be the player who’s going to join here.” “And I ended up having a year, four months there, where I had to train a lot, work a lot. And I had two coaches who trained with me separately, technical coaches, so to speak, who made me even better.” The Di Natale factor Fernandes went on to credit Udinese legend Antonio Di Natale with teaching him how to strike the ball. He said: “With all this, I also had Di Natale who taught me how to hit the ball, how to position the body, how to take the steps before hitting the ball, the positioning of the goalkeeper and the positions where we are shooting.” The Portuguese magician played alongside Di Natale for three seasons at Udinese before moving to Sampdoria. Fernandes was quick to point out that he learned from several other players, including United legend Cristiano Ronaldo. He said: “And over time I had other players, in the national team I was fortunate to work with Cristiano [Ronaldo] all these years, and over time you will learn from the best. I watch a lot of soccer. I dedicate myself to learning from the players I see, not only those I refer [to], but also from all those who do something good.” “Even today, in the Premier League, in the Spanish league, in the Italian and French league, in the whole world, I watch a lot of soccer and I can learn and get the best out of each one to try to include in my game.” Eager to inspire United back to the top Fernandes also spoke warmly about United, insisting that it is an honour to play for the English giants. He said: “Playing for Manchester United is always a special moment for everyone. At the same time, it brings a lot of responsibility with it. But I don’t think anyone comes to Manchester United thinking that we won’t have the responsibility to win again, to be at the top of Premier League, at the top of European soccer. Because the club’s history brings that responsibility.” “Regardless of the most recent years they were not at the level that the club was used to. I think everyone always believes that we can be the ones who are going to do this, the ones who are going to turn the page, the ones who are going to make it possible for United to fight on all fronts.” “And I think that has to be special for us players, to realize that we can be the main, let’s say, protagonists of this change of history for United to win again.” Final Thoughts Fernandes recently won his record fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award, while also lifting the Premier League Player of the Season and the FWA Footballer of the Year awards this season. The Portuguese’s contract expires in just over a year, so fans will hope that United tie him down to a new deal soon. Featured image Steve Bardens via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
Taught me how to hit the ball: Bruno Fernandes discloses which Italian cult hero turned his career around
United scouts blown away by 20yo Italian sniper, a swap deal could be INEOS’ best shot at winning transfer race – report
Considering Manchester United will be competing on four fronts next season, the squad will need to cope with three matches in a single week. For that, INEOS need to add depth to the squad with the attack, in particular, needing more quality. Currently, Michael Carrick only has Benjamin Sesko as an out-and-out striker. The Slovenian enjoyed a terrific debut season since the head coach took charge, but it would be a mistake to place the entire burden of scoring goals on the 23-year-old. His backup, Joshua Zirkzee, is not a reliable goalscorer, and while the Dutchman would love to stay, INEOS are keen to cut their losses. United scouts blown away by Pio Esposito The co-owners are looking to add another proven goalscorer to their ranks, and Teamtalk have revealed that club scouts have been blown away by Inter Milan striker Pio Esposito. They were in attendance to watch the 20-year-old in action for his country, as he netted against both Luxembourg and Greece with Italy claiming victories in each friendly. Scouts feel that, despite his young age, Pio Esposito is ready to make a step up in his career. His form for the Nerazzurri last season was equally impressive, as the striker netted 10 times in all competitions while registering six assists. Will not be easy to sign him Naturally, that has meant plenty of English clubs are interested, and United will not have it easy to acquire his services. “Manchester United were among the clubs represented in Greece on Sunday as they continued their assessment of highly-rated Inter Milan striker Pio Esposito, TEAMtalk can reveal. “The 20-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for the Nerazzurri, notching 10 goals and six assists this season, and is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting young forwards in European football. “Esposito’s performances have not gone unnoticed, and TEAMtalk understands the Italian international is attracting attention from across the Premier League, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea’s ownership group, BlueCo, all having monitored his development closely over the past 12 months. Swap deal opportunity opening up “Sources have told TEAMtalk that Man Utd scouts were present for Italy’s recent fixtures against Luxembourg and Greece, with Esposito starting both matches and finding the net in each. “The young striker’s displays only strengthened the belief among Man Utd’s recruitment staff that he possesses the attributes to develop into a top-level centre-forward.” There is one way the 20-time English league champions could potentially get ahead of the competition for the Italian’s services. Inter are interested in Zirkzee, and that could open up the possibility of a swap deal. The Inter striker is aware of the interest he is generating, but whether he will leave remains to be seen. His current deal is valid until 2030, and the Serie A giants see him as the cornerstone of their project, which makes it even more difficult for United. Feature image Alessandro Sabattini via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
United don’t want 21-yo West Ham star, working on agreeing massive deal for his teammate instead – report
Manchester United are pushing to finalise multiple deals before the summer transfer window even opens. According to Fabrizio Romano, United and Atalanta have “completed all documents” to seal a deal worth €45m for Brazilian midfielder Ederson. Now, it has emerged that United have opened talks with West Ham United to find an agreement for their £80m-rated playmaker, Mateus Fernandes, who wants to move to Old Trafford. Manchester United not chasing El Hadji Malick Diouf In recent weeks, Manchester United have also been linked with West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf. It has been widely reported that United are looking at the left side of their team during this window, but full-back seems the likeliest spot for an arrival amid concerns over Luke Shaw’s fitness. In that regard, Diouf could prove to be a shrewd acquisition. The 21-year-old left-back has impressed with his athleticism, attacking intent, and swerving crosses in his maiden season in the Premier League. With the Hammers desperate for sales, Diouf, who moved to London from Slavia Prague, might be available for a reasonable fee. However, according to club insider Sully, “reports that United are interested in full-back El Hadji Diouf are wide of the mark.” Have heard we have had talks w West Ham regarding Mateus Fernandes. Also reports on Diouf at the moment are wide of the mark. More information in the article w @SullyTalkz https://t.co/lRgIk1Sxw4 — Nad (@UtdNadd) June 8, 2026 Manchester United keen on Lewis Hall It seems Jason Wilcox and company are focused on Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall to strengthen the left flank. However, Newcastle are reluctant to part ways with the Englishman. Furthermore, following the sale of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, they are no longer scrambling to raise funds through sales. It has been previously alleged that it would take an offer of around £70m to convince Newcastle to sanction Hall’s exit. In the event the Magpies refuse to budge on their valuation of Hall, United should definitely explore the possibility of signing Diouf from the relegated east London outfit. Featured image Warren Little via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!
United strike gold in hunt for Zirkzee upgrade, unstoppable La Liga hitman now “prioritising” PL move – opinion
Despite spending big on a striker last summer, there is talk of Manchester United signing another one this summer. Joshua Zirkzee, who has not fully established himself at Old Trafford, is tipped to leave, with Serie A sides eager to land his services. Should the Dutch striker finally leave, INEOS would have little choice but to find his replacement. One suggestion is that the 20-time English champions could move for an experienced striker, with Robert Lewandowski and Danny Welbeck both linked. The idea is that alongside these strikers, Benjamin Sesko would not only share the striking workload but also benefit from their mentorship. While that route makes perfect sense, it would be wise for United to remain open to unmissable transfer opportunities such as the one Karl Etta Eyong is presenting them. In the first half of the season, United were heavily linked with the Levante striker. At the time, it was a straight race between United and Barcelona to land the clinical, physically robust, and tactically versatile 22-year-old. Barcelona, however, appear to have since dropped out of the race, and there was subsequently talk of CSKA Moscow attempting to sign him last January. While Levante accepted the Russian side’s offer and were ready to strike a deal, Eyong rejected the move. That decision cost him his place in the team. He barely featured in the second half of the season, mostly used from the bench, a situation that held him back considerably, with just one league goal to his name since the turn of the year. Eyong pushing hard for Premier League switch Eyong cannot continue at Levante, and with what Ben Jacobs is reporting, it appears he will not: “Etta Eyong is now prioritising a move to England. Two Premier League clubs have made approaches to Levante. “There is also active interest from Turkey. “Levante want €30m+ for Eyong and accepted an offer from CSKA in January. Eyong did not want to join.” That update presents an interesting transfer opportunity that United cannot afford to ignore. In fact, hopefully, they are one of the two English sides pursuing him. Eyong the perfect Zirkzee upgrade Eyong is a fine natural striker who looks built for the Premier League. An explosive, instinctual forward who relies on rapid acceleration to get in behind defensive lines, combined with lethal finishing and smart movement inside the penalty box, he could prove a real handful for Premier League defenders. It is also easy to attribute his struggles in the second half of the season to the difficult position he found himself in after snubbing a winter exit. United should take a chance on him. He could be the perfect rotation option alongside Sesko, and be everything Zirkzee should have been in a United shirt. A Zirkzee Serie A switch could realistically fetch INEOS upwards of £24 million. That money could then be channelled straight into signing Eyong, and together with Sesko, INEOS would have secured United’s attack for years to come. Featured image Pedro Salado via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.
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United open club-to-club talks to sign 80m midfield magician, Old Trafford is his dream move – report
Manchester United have opened club-to-club talks with West Ham United to strike a deal for Mateus Fernandes, according to an inside source. Theatre of Dreams The Red Devils are focusing on an overhaul of Michael Carrick’s midfield unit this summer, with Casemiro’s departure confirmed and Manuel Ugarte available for sale. A £39 million deal has already been struck for Ederson, Atalanta’s 26-year-old box-to-box warrior. However, the Brazilian received a late call-up by Carlo Ancelotti for the Seleção yesterday, which could potentially delay official completion of the move. Should Ugarte depart, United are intent on adding two more midfielders to their ranks, with Elliot Anderson and Aurelien Tchouameni the leading targets, while Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton, Alex Scott and Carlos Baleba are other names on the list. However, Fernandes – West Ham’s 21-year-old starlet – has rapidly emerged as a priority for the Red Devils after a superb season at the London Stadium, with the Hammers’ relegation opening the door to an exit. Mateus Fernandes Premier League stats: 2025/26 Season Appearances36 Minutes per game84 Touches58.9 Key passes1.0 Accurate passes37.9 Interceptions 1.0 Tackles 2.9 Goals and assists 7 Source: Sofascore Talks have been held with the Portugal international, who narrowly missed out on a place in Roberto Martinez’s squad for the World Cup. He has communicated a strong desire to join United, considering Old Trafford a ‘dream move’. Now, according to a well-placed source, INEOS have formally “begun talks” with West Ham to try and agree a deal, despite an exorbitant £80m valuation. United move first There has been considerable interest from across Europe in Fernandes, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain all expressing interest in the youngster. But it is United who have struck first, with Sully – an excellent source of news in M16 – revealing that formal negotiations have opened as INEOS are keen to avoid a “long saga.” #MUFC have begun talks with #WHU for Mateus Fernandes. United have no desire to pay the £80M asking fee from West Ham and ideally don’t want a long saga. 21 yo is keen on a move as reported. However, internal chaos at #WHU after Sullivan left. @UtdDistrict https://t.co/iUZ8IYmkIk — Sully (@SullyTalkz) June 8, 2026 Tweet: “#MUFC have begun talks with #WHU for Mateus Fernandes. United have no desire to pay the £80M asking fee from West Ham and ideally don’t want a long saga. 21 yo is keen on a move as reported. However, internal chaos at #WHU after Sullivan left. United are said to have “no desire to pay” West Ham United’s valuation of £80m, though well-placed figures have suggested the expected price will be closer to £60m – a much more reasonable price for a young midfielder with only two years of Premier League experience. West Ham United are in desperate need of income to prepare for their descent into the Championship, with the east London club believed to be looking to raise as much as £150 million in sales. Fernandes is their most profitable asset by far, which explains their desire to drive a hard bargain. If any of his other suitors formalise their interest, a bidding war could erupt – which would be music to the Hammers’ ears. However, a report relayed by The Peoples Person indicates Fernandes’ agent, Jorge Mendes, is drumming up noise around his client in order to extract as much value as possible. There is understood to be confidence from those close to the deal that the red half of Manchester remains the Olhão native’s preferred, and most likely, destination this summer. Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.
United warrior is a dedicated soldier on the warpath to make history at the World Cup – report
The 2026 World Cup is set to kick off this week, with the biggest ever edition of football’s showpiece occasion ready to capture the attention of the globe over the next two months. Manchester United will be represented heavily across the tournament, with a host of players from Old Trafford chasing glory for their respective nations. However, only one United star at this year’s competition knows what it’s like to win the famous trophy, having been part of the Argentina squad who secured their place in the history books in Qatar four years ago. Lisandro Martinez has been picked once again by Lionel Scaloni as the Argentines go after back-to-back wins, which would cement them as one of the greatest national sides of all time. Warm-up’s going well As with every nation, warm-up games have been taking place in relevant venues, with coaches fine-tuning their tactics and getting their players acclimatised to the conditions they will face in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Argentina played Central American rivals Honduras in a friendly fixture in the early hours of Sunday morning BST, which Martinez started and completed with an impressive 60-minute showing before being replaced by Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero. Goals from Lautaro Martinez and Giuliano Simeone gave Scaloni’s men a 2-0 win at Kyle Park, with Argentine media responding well to the performance of the team and the United defender in particular. As reported by The Mirror, local outlet Clarin rated Martinez a strong six out of ten, describing him as “solid defensively” if not overly troubled by the Honduras attack throughout his hour on the field. As well as being his usual tenacious self in defending, Martinez also nearly scored the goal of his life through an outrageous bicycle kick attempt from the edge of the box that “surprised everyone” according to Clarin. Another respected Argentine outlet, La Nacion, also praised the 28-year-old, agreeing with Clarin on the six out of ten match rating and branding him a “dedicated soldier” before citing his “great intensity and desire for never letting up”. Fitness concerns behind him? Despite another injury-ravaged campaign at Old Trafford, Martinez did end the season available to Michael Carrick, and La Nacion noted the centre-back as looking “fit and ready whenever needed”, which will be music to Scaloni’s ears as he prepares the defence of the trophy. Carrick will also be hoping Martinez enjoys a strong tournament and returns to Manchester fit and well to fight for his place in a United squad that will need all hands on deck next season. United secured an impressive third-place finish in the Premier League last term but will be well aware of the challenges that face them in the new campaign, given the extra demands that come with playing in the Champions League. Having Martinez fit for the new season will be crucial to United, who undoubtedly look a better side with the Argentine at the heart of the back four. His ability on the ball, coupled with his desire to defend his goal, has made him a cult hero at Old Trafford, and Carrick would love to oversee an injury-free campaign upon his return that could see him bringing back a historic second World Cup winner’s medal. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Conner Botterill Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for three years. A lifelong red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology through the Open University. His favourite match attended was the unforgettable night in Paris in 2019 under the guidance of one of his idols, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
“He’s so good at…”: England teammate lifts lid on what Kobbie Mainno did in training that left him stunned
Newcastle defender Tino Livramento has admitted being stunned by something he has seen Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo do in England training. History beckons Mainoo and his England teammates will be looking to make history this summer when they participate in the World Cup in North America. The youngster and Marcus Rashford, who spent the 2025/26 season out on loan at Barcelona, are the only United representatives in the squad. This follows the shock exclusions of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw. Though this is Mainoo’s first World Cup, it’s far from his first major tournament for the Three Lions. He was a key figure for Gareth Southgate at Euro 2020, playing in the final loss to Spain. At one point, Mainoo seemed at real risk of missing out on the England squad as he struggled for playing time under then-manager Ruben Amorim. For reasons best known to himself, Amorim regularly overlooked Mainoo, even favouring the uninspiring Manuel Ugarte over him. The Carrington academy graduate looked destined to leave in January but Michael Carrick’s arrival as the replacement for Amorim breathed new life into his fortunes. Mainoo started all but one of the 17 Premier League games that Carrick took charge of. Mainoo recently thanked Carrick directly for helping him nail down a spot in the national team. And it looks like the 21-year-old is making waves in the camp, if Livramento’s remarks are anything to go by. Livramento raves about Mainoo Appearing on the latest episode of Lions’ Den connected by EE, Livramento was asked about a moment that made him stop and take notice. The Newcastle man answered, “One thing that’s like, seeing Kobbie play two-touch.” “He’s so good at two-touch. He’d be passing it or flicking it with his ankle and that.” England are next in action on Wednesday when they face Costa Rica in a friendly, before they turn their attention towards their opening game of the World Cup against Croatia a week later. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Latest Top Stories… Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
