Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has become a household name since his arrival at Old Trafford in 2020. The Portuguese playmaker has set new creative standards in modern football and etched his name in Premier League history this year.

When Fernandes assisted Patrick Dorgu for the opening goal in United’s 3-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, he recorded his 21st league assist of the season. This milestone saw him surpass the previous record for the most assists in a single Premier League campaign (20), jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

The feat highlights Fernandes’ exceptional quality, made even more impressive by the fact that he spent the first half of the season in a deeper midfield role. At 31, he remains Manchester United’s most consistent performer since joining the club and has been central to their impressive surge under Michael Carrick this season.

His efforts this term have not gone unnoticed. Fernandes has swept several major awards, including the Premier League Player of the Season, the FWA Footballer of the Year, Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year, and the United Players’ Player of the Year.

Fernandes began his football journey at Porto-based Boavista before moving to Italy with Novara in 2012, where he made his senior debut. A year later, he joined Udinese, spending three seasons there before a brief loan spell with Sampdoria. In 2017, he signed with Sporting, where his performances caught the attention of United’s scouts. Since arriving at the Theatre of Dreams, Fernandes has tallied 107 goals and 108 assists in 327 appearances.

The midfielder is entering the final year of his current contract this summer and has yet to sign an extension, leaving his future uncertain. This season, Fernandes has contributed nine goals and 22 assists in 37 matches across all competitions, starting in all but one of them.

The Portuguese star became only the third player after Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney to register both 100 goals and 100 assists for the club. However, his career could have taken a different path had circumstances panned out differently a decade ago.

In an interview on The Diary of a CEO, Fernandes revealed that he nearly joined Watford on loan in 2013 as a teenager. He explained, “I was very close to joining Watford on loan because they had the same owners. It was right before the transfer window closed. Udinese had just signed me, and they had a big squad.”

He continued, “They told me, ‘We’re sending you to Watford; you’ll play there.’ I thought, ‘What did I do wrong? Am I not good enough?’ They asked me to pack my bags at the hotel since it was the final days of the window, so I packed everything.”

“I was with my girlfriend, and she said, ‘Don’t worry, wherever we go, you’ll succeed.’ But I kept thinking, ‘Why can’t I make it here? Why is the manager, Francesco Guidolin, not seeing me like he sees the others?’”

“In my head, I was wondering what I had done wrong. I hadn’t yet shown my potential or proved that I belonged in the team. Then, suddenly, the sporting director, Giaretta, called me again.”

“He said, ‘Bruno, you’re not going anywhere. The manager wants you to stay. He loves your attitude and wants you to learn his system. You may not play much this season, but he believes you’ll succeed here.’ We spoke many times after that, and Guidolin became like a father figure to me.”

Since Carrick’s appointment, Manchester United have been on an upward trajectory. Smart recruitment this summer could further strengthen their push for trophies next season. With Fernandes orchestrating play in his preferred No. 10 role, the Red Devils could reach even greater heights, making it crucial for INEOS to secure his long-term future with a new contract.