Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka claims Manchester United have a player in their ranks who is superior to Chelsea star Cole Palmer.
It has been an underwhelming start to the 2025/26 season for Manchester United.
The Red Devils currently sit 10th in the Premier League, after winning just three of their first seven games, but there were doubts over Ruben Amorim’s future until Sir Jim Ratcliffe gave his public backing during a podcast appearance during the October international break.
United beat Sunderland 2-0 last time out after goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko. They will hope to make it back-to-back wins for the first time – in the Premier League – since Amorim became head coach in November 2024.
Next time out for United, once the international break is over, Amorim’s side travel to Anfield where they will take on Premier League champions Liverpool. They will need all of their star players to rise to the occasion because it’s a result the head coach needs after a difficult first 11 months at Old Trafford. It could go a long way towards lifting the mood in the dressing room.
Despite poor results in the Premier League, players at other clubs still appreciate United’s star players, which is evident in the upcoming episode of Saturday Social on Sky Sports.
Bruno Fernandes playing Sunderland at Old Trafford
Photo by Ben Roberts – Danehouse/Getty Images
Granit Xhaka ranks Bruno Fernandes higher than Cole Palmer and Florian Wirtz
Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka ranked the greatest creative midfielders and playmakers to watch in the Premier League this season.
The three players given to Xhaka were Bruno Fernandes, Florian Wirtz and Cole Palmer.
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Fernandes has been perhaps the most consistent creative player in the Premier League since he arrived at United from Sporting CP in 2020. Since then, the Portugal international has been United’s most valuable player by some distance and currently wears the captain’s armband as a key figure in the dressing room.
Wirtz has had a poor start to the season, and Palmer has yet to show consistency like Fernandes.
Speaking to Sky Sports about his selection, Xhaka said: “This one is very difficult because Bruno is the most experienced player of these three. He has shown himself already for many years what he can do. Not just in the Premier League but for the national team. For Portugal.
“Even the numbers you see, in the last couple of years. Unbelievable and because I have a lot of respect for him, I will put Bruno first.”
Xhaka continued to put Wirtz second and Palmer third.
Winning the club’s Player of the Year on four occasions, Fernandes’ brilliance shouldn’t need explaining to anyone who watches the Premier League regularly. He is the one who often pulls United out of trouble in games, whereas this season, he is being tasked with playing a deeper position in midfield to make room for new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Bruno Fernandes is topping the charts
Since the start of last season, no Premier League midfielder has scored more goals than Fernandes.
Fernandes’ output may shorten due to his responsibilities in midfield this season, plus his unfortunate misses from the penalty spot after squandering two spot kicks.
The 31-year-old has scored two goals in eight games this season.
Fernandes will be in action for Portugal on Saturday night when they take on the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup qualifier.