"Bruno Fernandes is starting to become the captain Manchester United need - one who is willing to talk the truth about the state of his club, however uncomfortable those words sound"
14:18, 04 Aug 2025
Jeremy Cross
Jeremy joined the Daily Star in 2010 as Manchester football correspondent and for more than a decade has served as our Chief Sports Writer. He provides expert coverage on Manchester United and Manchester City, the Premier League as a whole, and the England football team. Jeremy has covered football, rugby and cricket World Cups, as well as Wimbledon, the golf majors and the Olympics.
Bruno Fernandes is doing his job as the link between Manchester United and their supporters
Bruno Fernandes is doing his job as the link between Manchester United and their supporters(Image: Getty Images)
Bruno Fernandes is starting to become the captain Manchester United need.
Not the one who sulks too much on the pitch. Not the one who has made moaning to officials an art form. And not the one who gets himself sent off, to set the wrong example. But the one who is willing to talk the truth about the state of his club, however uncomfortable those words sound.
It's safe to assume Fernandes is able to say what he wants, without risking upsetting United's owners. When he turned down a move to Saudi Arabia a few weeks ago, he did so because Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Co outlined the reasons he should stay. These included the club's transfer plans, not to mention the fact Fernandes is far too important and influential to let go.
And now the Portuguese has taken advantage of his privileged position, by making it clear United are still coming up short when it comes to giving manager Ruben Amorim the team he needs to be able to compete for the biggest trophies.
He said: "I don't want to have a dig at anyone, but I think the club is doing the best they can in terms of all the financial situations they talk about.
Bruno Fernandes applauds Manchester United fans following their Premier League Summer Series triumph
Bruno Fernandes applauds Manchester United fans following their Premier League Summer Series triumph
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"I don’t know about it, I’m not involved in that. But obviously it was crystal clear we needed more competition for the players that were here.
"We needed more quality to get everyone to step up a bit more, and to have more to do to get into the starting line-up.
"I think that’s what the club and the manager are trying to do - and hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that."
In other words, the signings of Matheus Kunha and Bryan Mbeumo are good, but still not enough.
It is a captain's job to articulate how he feels. To be that link between his club and the supporters. No-one knows more than Fernandes how shambolic United's recruitment has been.
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The list of expensive failures is a long and depressing one. It includes the likes of Jadon Sancho, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund, who is now for sale at a cut price £30m.
Even Cristiano Ronaldo's second spell at Old Trafford turned into a complete disaster. While going further back, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Angel Di Maria, Memphis Depay, Alexis Sanchez, Wilfried Zaha and Donny van de Beek all came and went at huge cost.
Ratcliffe has tried to restructure the club's scouting and recruitment departments. But it continues to be a massive overhaul. A fact Fernandes has alluded to above.
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Sometimes the truth hurts - and Fernandes deserves huge credit for being honest enough to admit United face more pain again this season and beyond, until the club assembles a side capable of honouring the success and traditions a bloke called Sir Alex Ferguson once made the norm.