'He’s the one who stands out. I’m scared to think where Man Utd would be without him'

Bruno Fernandes is the beacon of a Manchester United adrift despite the talent of their star.

Playing as an attacking midfielder, Bruno has been the team’s top scorer in three—including the current one—of the five full seasons he’s played so far.

In a squad lacking leaders across all lines, the Portuguese has been the only one capable of bringing some light amid the chaos, a complete player sacrificed in defensive duties… but also exceptional in the final third.

No one can reproach Bruno for not putting in every ounce of effort to save Manchester United. At Old Trafford, where they appreciate the Portuguese’s work, they wonder what this team would be without their captain on the pitch.

The team is currently 13th in the Premier League standings, though who knows if relegation would be a threat if Bruno decided to jump ship whenever he pleased.

That, primarily, is the biggest criticism one could level at Bruno: that he continues to bet on a project that never quite takes off, while his career could shine even brighter elsewhere.

In this regard, the words of Phil Bardsley, a former Manchester United player, are particularly telling: “In any other team, he’d be winning trophies and probably sacrificing his own career to try to help Manchester United get back to where they want to be.

“He’s the one who stands out week after week; just look at his goals and assists. I’d be scared to imagine where Manchester United would be without him,” the Scotsman added, reported Sport.

That’s Bruno Fernandes—a player of a kind that no longer exists. Since arriving in January 2020, the Portuguese has played 250 matches for the Red Devils, racking up 83 goals and 70 assists—numbers that make him the soul of the team during a period of crisis.

Yet, with United out of the cup competitions and with a European spot on the line in the Europa League, the question persists: how long will Bruno keep carrying a team that doesn’t match his level?