Only two players in Manchester United’s history have reached 100 goals and 100 assists: Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney. Now, Bruno Fernandes is on the brink of joining them.
It is a testament to his time at Manchester United that Bruno Fernandes is on course to find himself in that calibre of company. With 103 goals and 96 assists in 311 appearances, Fernandes is just four away from the illustrious record in far fewer games than the two United legends.
In Wayne Rooney’s 559 appearances for United, he scored 253 goals and 142 assists, while Ryan Giggs registered 168 goals and 273 assists in 963 appearances. Not only being in a similar company, but massively ahead of two United legends just proves how underappreciated Fernandes truly is.
In United’s last Premier League game, they secured derby-day bragging rights, and Fernandes was, unsurprisingly, central to that. United manager Michael Carrick deployed the Portuguese magnifico in his favoured No.10 role, and he reaped the rewards as a result. Fernandes was relentless in creating chances on Saturday afternoon. In fact, such was the brilliance of the United captain that he made history by becoming the first-ever player to create four big chances against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side – no easy feat.
Sky Sports’ Thierry Henry was full of praise for Fernandes on Monday Night Football, particularly for his role in Bryan Mbeumo’s goal. Rather than rushing the pass to feed Mbeumo, Fernandes took his time and shifted Abdukodir Khusanov’s bodyweight, leaving the Cameroon international wide open.
“This guy is not playing football,” said Henry. “He is thinking about it. That’s a different ball game for me. He doesn’t just pass the ball for the sake of passing it, this guy thinks. He made that happen. Yes, I know people will say, ‘it’s easy’… it is not easy.”
Fernandes’ importance should not be understated
United were without their captain for a brief spell in December, and his absence was keenly felt.
Without Fernandes orchestrating play, United lacked direction and urgency in possession. The tempo slowed, chance creation dipped, and the side appeared short of ideas in key moments – a clear reflection of how integral he remains to their attacking structure.
Fernandes’ influence extends far beyond goals and assists. His work rate, leadership, and willingness to demand the ball in difficult situations continue to set the standard for those around him. In high-pressure moments, he remains United’s primary reference point – the player teammates look to when the game requires inspiration.
His leadership style is often accompanied by visible emotion. Fernandes is known for throwing his arms in the air, demanding more from those around him, and showing clear frustration when standards drop. For some, this is easy to interpret as petulance. In reality, it is the behaviour of a player who sets the bar exceptionally high and expects his teammates to meet it.
Fernandes is a perfectionist, unwilling to accept mediocrity – from himself or others.
Fernandes is a modern United legend
Fernandes arrived at United during a time of turbulence, stepping into a club searching for direction amid an ongoing rebuild. Those issues remain prevalent at present. His influence was immediate, reshaping United’s attacking identity even as instability continues around him.
He makes the extraordinary look routine. Chances flow, United’s tempo shifts, and Bruno remains key to nearly every attacking phase, regularly cited among the league’s most productive creators.
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Reaching the 100-goal, 100-assist milestone would place Fernandes in one of the most exclusive groups in the club’s history. More importantly, it would underline his influence during one of the most difficult chapters in Manchester United’s modern history.
It may only be when Fernandes eventually hangs up his boots that he truly receives the respect he deserves.
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