Since joining the Premier League six years ago Bruno Fernandes has been the league’s most prolific creator by a clear margin. From January 2020 he has fashioned 670 chances — 238 more than the next player, Kevin de Bruyne.
Fernandes has also registered more assists than anyone else since his Premier League debut (71) and has scored 70 league goals, a total topped by only five other players in that period. When combining goals and assists across that span, only Mohamed Salah (193) has a higher total than Fernandes’ 141.
Former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville described Fernandes’ latest achievement as extraordinary, noting how rare it is to reach 20 assists in a single Premier League campaign, a mark shared with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry.
In the recent game against Nottingham Forest Fernandes produced eight chances — four more than any other player in that match — and almost added a 21st assist when he teed up Joshua Zirkzee late on; Zirkzee’s low attempt was superbly saved. After the game Fernandes downplayed the glory, joking that teammates had been trying to finish from his passes, while expressing pride at reaching 20 assists and hoping to add to the tally in the final fixture.
A year ago there was real speculation about whether United should accept a big offer from Al-Hilal and use the funds to rebuild, and Fernandes was at the centre of that debate. After discussing his ambitions with his wife — who asked whether he had achieved what he wanted at Old Trafford — he chose to stay. Whatever the alternative might have been, it is hard to imagine anyone matching the contribution he has provided this season; United officials will be grateful for that decision.
The importance of equalling the Premier League single-season assist record grew as the campaign reached its climax. With Michael Carrick’s return to the coaching staff and the season hanging in the balance, Fernandes stepped up. His 16 goal contributions in 15 games helped fire United back into the Champions League and shifted the club’s trajectory.
When some questioned his credentials as the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year by pointing to Arsenal’s stronger collective performance, the counterargument is that few individuals did more to lift their teams than Fernandes did this season.
Fernandes’ long-term future at United remains unsettled, and he has one last match — against Brighton next week — to claim the assist record outright. It would be a fitting end to the campaign should his decision to stay be sealed by taking the record on his own.
