- Michael Carrick responds to speculation surrounding Bruno Fernandes
- Red Devils boss emphasises club stance on keeping record-breaking captain
- Portuguese international is now officially the Premier League assist king
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has moved quickly to shut down any doubts surrounding the future of club captain Bruno Fernandes.
The Reds finished off the 2025/26 campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. Goals from Patrick Dorgu, Bryan Mbuemo and Fernandes himself capped off a strong finish to the campaign.
More importantly for the captain in his final attempt, he was able to surpass Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s assist tally of 20 in the Premier League. At 21, the Portuguese international now stands alone as the sole assist king.
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Fernandes ‘Loves Being Here’
The United boss was addressing the media directly about whether Fernandes would be leading the team next season. Specualtion was rife last summer, when the 31-year-old was contemplating an Old Trafford exit amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
Ultimately, Fernandes stayed in Manchester due to persuasion from his wife and then-head coach Ruben Amorim. In speaking out, Carrick was just as adamant, shutting down any exit talk with absolute certainty.
The 44-year-old said: “I’ve no reason to think otherwise. We love what he [Fernandes]’s done, and he loves being here.” These words emphasise the deep-rooted love formed between the playmaker and the club over the past six years.
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Keeping Fernandes Allows Focus on Rebuild
It would be a huge blow to the foundations of what the club is building if Fernandes were to leave. It is hard to imagine exactly where the club would be if he had left for Saudi last summer.
For Carrick’s own reasons, it would be a major setback if the captain left. Morale is high, and widely demonstrated by the team’s happiness in Fernandes’ individual success. Before breaking the assist record, the 31-year-old also won the FWA Men’s Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season awards.
To do that in a trophyless season is a testament to how well the player has done in 2025/26. Knowing that both the manager and the player are completely aligned ensures that the Red Devils can focus entirely on recruitment without the fear of losing their best player.
The next task is to reinforce the midfield to help the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Fernandes thrive. A return to Champions League football is hopefully just the start of reclaiming the position at the summit of English football which was lost 13 years ago.
