One former Premier League winner has urged Manchester United to take the captaincy off Bruno Fernandes because of his ‘diva’ like behaviour on the field. The Portuguese midfielder took the armband off Harry Maguire last summer, but despite lifting the FA Cup could only lead the club to an eighth placed finish in the top flight.
Fernandes made 48 club appearances during the 2023/24 campaign, scoring 15 goals, but again divided opinion with his perceived theatrics.
Only in August, he signed a new contract that will extend his stay at Old Trafford until June 2027, but now Emmanuel Petit has called for the club to make a ruthless call.
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“For me, Bruno Fernandes is a player that highlights the problems at Manchester United,” he told topoffshoresportsbooks.com. “He’s a good player, but most of the time, I don’t like the way he behaves on the pitch. He acts like a diva. He doesn’t help or encourage his teammates when the chips are down.
“When Manchester United are suffering, he’s always crying; always showing his disappointment. That is not what you expect from your captain. You’re expecting more encouragement, leadership. Someone that brings positivity.”
Petit, who landed a league and FA Cup double with Arsenal in 1997/98 and also won the World Cup with France in the summer that followed, argued that skipper is having a negative influence on team-mates. And he urged Erik ten Hag to hand the honour to a younger squad member.
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“When you've got a guy like Bruno at the top of your club,” he continued. “A player that is supposed to be the leader of the club on and off the pitch, and he acts the way that he does, that is going to have a knock-on effect on players that can’t be good.
“He wouldn’t be my first choice as captain, but that’s also a problem. I’m looking at the squad and I can’t see any leaders. United’s best players have been the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
“It would be a bold move, but If I’m Ten Hag, maybe I would make a strong decision and appoint the future of the club as my captain. Mainoo is young, but he’s English. He’s establishing himself in the national team. He’s the pride of the fans at Old Trafford.”
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The 53-year-old said that decision would “make a statement to underperforming players,” but such actions would signal a huge u-turn from the Dutchman. Last season, he frequently defended his captain, and hailed his commitment to the club.
"You see he gives always his best,” he said. “And he's an example, even with injuries, he's playing. He loves football. He wants to win, and I think that's how I describe his character."
