“He’s not Superman”: INEOS told to take ruthless decision on the future of Amorim favourite this summer – exclusive

Manchester United must consider selling Bruno Fernandes this summer if Ruben Amorim “wants to take the team forward,” a former Red Devil has revealed in an exclusive interview. “He’s not Superman” United secured a vital three points at Molineux last night as they put an abject Wolverhampton Wanderers side to the sword with a 4-1 win. A dismal first half performance, which ended level after both teams scored once apiece, was transformed following the interval, as Amorim laid down the law to his players in the away dressing room. With their head coach’s stinging words still ringing in their ears, United emerged for the second half with a renewed focus and energy. They produced some of their best football this season, racking up three goals to put the game to bed – and it should have been even more, but for some errant finishing. At the heart of the improved display was Fernandes, who ended the match with two goals and an assist, and was crucial to virtually every attack his side launched. PlayerBruno Fernandes Goals2 Expected goals (xG)1.16 Assists1 Expected assists (xA)0.85 Big chances created4 Key passes5 Crosses (accurate)5 (1) Accurate passes55/66 (83%) Passes in opposition half (acc.)33/43 (77%) Passes in own half (acc.)22/23 (96%) Long balls (accurate)3/6 (50%) Total shots5 Expected goals on target (xGOT)1.03 Shots on target2 Shots blocked3 Touches85 Unsuccessful touches1 Dribbles (successful)0 (0) Was fouled2 Possession lost19 Tackles (won)1 (1) Interceptions0 Clearances0 Blocked shots0 Recoveries7 Ground duels (won)5 (3) Aerial duels (won)6 (2) But former United defender Paul Parker, speaking to The Peoples Person on behalf of gambling portal British Gambler, believes Fernandes was as poor in the first half as he was good in the second, and questioned the Portugal international’s long-term future at Old Trafford. Parker is adamant Fernandes must be deployed “higher up the pitch” to minimise the impact his risky approach engenders. “I think he has to play higher up the pitch, start higher up the pitch to be honest. But, even then, the two players in front of him [Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo] are better than than him in those positions, because he hasn’t got the legs or the energy levels that [those two] have.” However, when asked whether giving Fernandes more freedom to “let loose” would be beneficial, for the captain and his team, Parker was sceptical. “You said about ‘letting him loose’, the problem is in certain ways if you let him loose he gets ill-disciplined. In the first half, he was quite poor because he gave the ball away. And one time, he played round the corner – and when you talk about ‘being blind’, even Stevie Wonder could see why – it looked terrible and it was terrible. “Bruno is, in certain ways, given a license. But when he gave the ball away on occasions, he apologised straight away because he knew he’d made a mistake or a poor decision. “So when someone reacts like that towards him, I’m hoping he acknowledges people do make mistakes as well, and takes on board that he’s not Superman, he’s not indestructible,” referring to Fernandes’s tendency to show his frustration with teammates on the pitch. “He was fortunate he was playing against Wolves,” the 61-year-old concluded of the first half at Molineux, while praising Casemiro for offering a calming presence by contrast. A Decision Needs to be Made Parker acknowledges the creativity and “improvisation” Fernandes offers – essential traits in the increasingly rigid tactical approach of modern football. “When you get into the final third, that’s where you want to see improvisation, even though it has been sucked away from our game now, because everyone is so structured and systematic in the way they play. “Managers are scared of counter-attacks. But good managers, when their team get in the final third, any players – like a Bruno, an Mbeumo, a Cunha – [should be told] to show a bit of imagination. If it’s not happening, can you make something happen off the cuff?” And the Premier League winning defender believes Fernandes’s style is less damaging for the team when he is closer to the opposition box than his own – a decision Amorim has consistently opted against this season. “The chance of negative things that go against you from that area [the final third] are more limited, than doing it in the back bit of the middle third, which [Bruno] does a hell of a lot – and that’s him as a player. The number of times he’s done it, it’s more than a suggestion, it’s a fact: he should not be playing so deep.” Which leaves something of a conundrum for INEOS when Parker’s assessment is taken as a whole. The former England international does not think Fernandes can play deeper in midfield – a view increasingly felt across sections of the United fanbase – but also believes both Cunha and Mbeumo are a better fit in the more advanced roles within Amorim’s system. When asked whether this should lead United to have a conversation around the future of a player who turns 32 next season, Parker references his former manager, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who made “big decisions” in pursuit of rebuilding his sides – with great success. “I think you have to look at [letting Fernandes go] if United are going to go forward. There’s been established managers in this league who have made bigger decisions about players than what [Amorim] has to, because they were in positions where their teams were chasing titles. And when you’re talking about relegation, it’s the same issue but a different mindset. “Sir Alex Ferguson made big decisions about [selling] players, and everyone questioned him about letting them go – but the following season, he was winning trophies. “[Amorim] has got it slightly easier. If he wants to take the team forward, Bruno is 31 years of age – you’re not looking to build and go forward with a 31-year-old. You have to put the onus on a different clutch of players to go and achieve it.” There was interest in Fernandes last summer after Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal expressed willingness to table a mammoth offer to convince the midfield to swap Manchester for the Middle East. United were believed to be open to his departure, providing Fernandes express an intent to leave, which never came. But if this proposal were to remerge next year, Parker thinks the Red Devils should look to cash in on a player who represents only the present at Old Trafford, not the future. British Gambler is committed to guiding users through the legal landscape of online gambling, providing them with detailed and reliable information on the best gaming sites, mobile apps, and promotional offers available. Featured image Justin Setterfield 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 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.