Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes is in contention for the PFA Player of the Year award.
Where would Manchester United have been without Bruno Fernandes last season?
For all the negativity that was created by United's worst season in 51 years in the 2024/25 campaign, Fernandes was a ray of positivity.
Despite starting the season relatively slowly and not showing his best levels until after Christmas, he still managed to end the season with an impressive 19 goals to his name. He also chalked up 18 assists to finish the campaign with 37 direct goal contributions in 57 games.
For a side that finished 15th in the Premier League and failed to win a trophy, it was an impressive haul. And it is why the United captain has been shortlisted for the Professional Footballers' Association [PFA] Players' Player of the Year award.
He is one of six players to have been shortlisted alongside Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Alexis Mac Allister, Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Chelsea starlet Cole Palmer.
Fernandes is the only player on the shortlist who will not be playing in the Champions League next season. In fact, if he stays at Old Trafford this summer, he will not be playing in Europe at all in 2025/26.
When United needed someone to step forward and take responsibility in dark and testing times last season, Fernandes often obliged, taking it upon himself to get his teammates out of trouble.
His form between late-February and mid-April was particularly impressive. His goals and assists in the league alone earned United eight points within that period.
Back in March, United chief executive Omar Berrada opened up on United's recruitment plans for the summer and said no player will be sold this summer for financial purposes. Amid talk of Al-Hilal being prepared to pay £100million for Fernandes last month, that may have tested United's resolve amid his importance.
Bruno Fernandes has rarely let Manchester United down. (Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images.)
His place on the PFA shortlist is deserved. On an individual basis, Fernandes had a great campaign in 2024/25, particularly in the second half of the season.
However, that did not stop former United captain Roy Keane from criticising the Portuguese, suggesting talent is not always enough to succeed at Old Trafford.
Speaking on The Overlap in February, Keane said: "Save us? They're 15th in the league and he's saving them? Praise the lord.
"You have to have a starting point. I go back to it all - talent is not enough. Bruno's a talented player, but talent's not enough."
Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright was sat alongside Keane at the time and he did his very best to defend Fernandes, which only led to Keane becoming more angry.
He added: "You talk to me [about] who you were in a dressing room with. 'Tony Adams was this, Tony Adams was that'. Yes, because he was a fighter. Bruno's not a fighter.
Roy Keane has been critical of Bruno Fernandes more than once. (Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images.)
"You've got young players. You have to look at somebody and go 'I like what he does'.
"They all can't put the ball in the top of the net from 25 yards, I get that. But you want someone who is going 'lads, are you with me?"'
Young players can look up to Fernandes and feel inspired. He regularly takes it upon himself to get United out of trouble and he has been their best signing since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 by some distance.
Keane has always wanted every United player to set exemplary standards, and that is fine. He has been there, done it and got the t-shirt.
However, the fact Fernandes is in the conversation to be crowned PFA Player of the Year after the season United had is testament to how impressive and important he was.