Bruno Fernandes contract: How did the Portuguese star bridge the gap between Manchester United’s midfield and attack?

At the turn of 2020, Manchester United were nowhere near the level the club is known for in the Premier League. They were far away from the top four places in the league and it was quickly turning into another season to forget. However, one January signing changed the course of the campaign when Bruno Fernandes arrived from Sporting Lisbon. Fans in the Premier League had heard of him and his potential, but no one expected him to be the Reds’ game-changer. But, much to the surprise of many, the Portuguese star quickly settled in and began delivering standout performances.

He instantly became a vital part of the team, as the entire play revolved around him. Be it scoring goals or creating assists, Fernandes has become the go-to player for the Red Devils. The Portuguese star played an important role in helping United finish third in the Premier League and reach the semifinals of the FA Cup and the Europa League. Following his instant impact, Fernandes became a household name at Old Trafford and the fans have continued to sing his name ever since.

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Why was Bruno Fernandes a quick success?

The 2019/20 season was former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first full campaign with Manchester United. The club went into a rebuilding phase, as some new names came in while few left elsewhere. This meant the new players were struggling to find their feet quickly at Old Trafford. Besides, the squad also had holes in various departments. 

United had decent midfielders in the form of an experienced Nemanja Matic, Fred and a young Scot Mctominay. Paul Pogba had several injury problems that season. The frontline largely consisted of young players such as Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Daniel James and a teenage Mason Greenwood. What they lacked was a link-up player, someone who needed to bridge the gap between midfield and attack.

This is where Bruno Fernandes came. He was everything Manchester United needed at that point. Hence, the Portuguese star eased his way into Ole’s 4-2-3-1 system, sitting behind the lone striker as a No.10. Most of United’s attacking play went through Fernandes, who was always available to receive or distribute a pass.

Besides, Fernandes was a risk-taker. Unlike many of his teammates, the attacking midfielder did not take the safe passing option, as he constantly tried to break the opposition defensive line with his forward passes. Some balls did go wayward but he was largely successful. This approach quickly made him a fan favourite.

How has Bruno Fernandes fared for Manchester United?

Fernandes’ numbers at Manchester United have been mighty impressive, with the Portuguese star regularly getting on the scoreboard with his goals or assists. In the second half of the 2019/20 season, Fernandes scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in 22 appearances across all competitions. He played a key role in United finishing an unlikely third in the Premier League table. 

The following season – his first full campaign with Manchester United – has been the best for Fernandes so far at Old Trafford. In the 2020/21 campaign, the Portuguese star scored a staggering 28 goals and provided 17 assists in 58 appearances. Overall, Fernandes had 45 goal contributions. In the current campaign, Fernandes has found the back of the net nine times and has assisted a further 14 times in 37 appearances till now.

Bruno Fernandes is the ultimate chance-creating machine

More than the goals and assists, Fernandes has always been a chance-creating machine for the Reds. Be it short range passes or long range through balls, Fernandes has the ability to execute them all. He can also drop in the midfield and dictate the play from deep while switching the play effectively to move the ball from one flank to another quickly. 

In his absence, the Red Devils have lacked the creativity up front and have been predictable with their passing game. This shows United’s dependency on the Portuguese star. He has now signed a new contract with the Red Devils that will keep him at Old Trafford until at least 2026. 

The contract extension will be a big boost for the Reds ahead of their search for a new manager. Whatever happens in the future, Bruno Fernandes will always go down as one of the best January buys of Manchester United.