Those are the guys: French icon explains why United star and Pedri are in a class of their own

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has come under scrutiny following Portugal’s 1-1 draw with Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is adamant that the Portuguese is a special player. Fernandes is coming off an outstanding campaign with the Red Devils, where he broke Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s previous record for most assists (20) in a single Premier League campaign. The 31 year old ended up winning the Premier League Player of the Season and the FWA Footballer of the Year awards. 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. Regarded as one of the most creative players in the world right now, Fernandes helped United finish third in the league table and earn qualification for next season’s Champions League. The Portuguese, however, was off-colour against Congo, although Henry has pointed out that he could have turned the game had Cristiano Ronaldo not interfered. The French legend recently sat down with United icon Rio Ferdinand for a chat on Rio Ferdinand Presents, where he discussed a variety of topics. Henry hails Fernandes’ brains When asked to name the player who reminds him of brains in football at the moment, Henry singled out Fernandes as well as Barcelona star Pedri. He said: “Bruno Fernandes. Pedri. Pedri has two. He has two brains. He has two. He has two brains.” Fernandes started the campaign in an unorthodox pivot role alongside Casemiro, but adapted very well to the position change. Even from a deeper position, the Portuguese remained United’s talisman, before he was finally reinstated in the No. 10 role by Michael Carrick in January. The Red Devils skipper went on to gift fans a historic campaign. He also created 136 chances in the Premier League last season, the most in the league by a fair distance. The importance of a football brain Henry went on to explain, in depth, the importance of brains in football. He said: “No, but look, those are the guys. Believe it or not, I always say to people when I used to play, I used to prefer an assist than a goal. And people always used to go, what? Come on, stop lying. No. Watch me when I used to score. It is simple. You can see it.” “How many times you saw me really smiling after a goal? I always used to think, so for example, let’s say I miss a goal, or I’m thinking even the game before, I missed, although we won, and I missed a goal, I’ll be like, so I’m thinking about the goal I just scored at the time.” “And for me, in my mind, I’m kind of like, how did I effing miss that last week or five minutes before and I scored this one? And I was always keeping that. But then, look at whenever I used to give an assist, I used to smile.” “And I always used to say that to people, he doesn’t smile, this guy. And I’m like, you’re wrong. I smile when I give an assist. But because assists at the time were not so much a thing. Now, obviously, when I assist, they assist. And by the way, which I think is how it should be, because I don’t know a lot of players that could score a goal without an assist.” “Who can take the ball from anywhere and then score? You don’t have a lot of people in that bracket. So therefore, it is very important. And by the way, it is. You pass the ball. You don’t run from everywhere with it, which I don’t mind that. And I think it’s kind of gone a tiny bit in the game, that part of it.” “But again, to go back to what you asked me before, which I will go back again, people do underestimate the power of the brain when we all know that’s the thing. That’s the thing that sends signals to the body. But then we don’t.” Final Thoughts Fernandes has been central to everything good about United over the past half-decade. With the Portuguese’s contract set to expire in just over a year, INEOS must do everything possible to secure his long-term future at the club. Most chances created in a single Premier League season on record: ◎ 146 – Mesut Özil (15/16) ◎ 136 – Kevin De Bruyne (19/20) ◉ 136 – Bruno Fernandes (25/26)◎ 134 – Frank Lampard (08/09) Bruno ties KDB in second. 🤝 https://t.co/JUsQ0PIuyR pic.twitter.com/XhoAPWK2VB — Squawka (@Squawka) May 25, 2026 Featured image by Molly Darlington/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.