Manchester United supporters have just 14 games left to enjoy Casemiro - is the same true of Bruno Fernandes?
Now entering the final 18 months of his contract, the 31-year-old hasn't been afraid to discuss his Old Trafford future in recent months, speaking openly about how close he came to joining Al Hilal over the summer, while hinting at his desire to win titles in Spain or Italy.
Bruno-Fernandes-Man-Utd-quotes
Can anyone truly begrudge him of the decision, however, if he does choose to walk away?
Time and again, the Portugal star has carried this team on his back, with 313 appearances - and just a handful of missed games - resulting in 202 goals and assists in all competitions.
There hasn't been and likely won't be a Premier League title success to go with it, but a legend he remains regardless, with filling those shoes likely to be an almost impossible task should he decide to leave.
Ranking Bruno Fernandes' best season at Man Utd
Right from the off, following a Man of the Match display on debut, Fernandes made himself front and centre of this team, ending his first six months at the club with 20 goal involvements in just 22 games, following his January 2020 arrival.
Bruno-Fernandes-Man-Utd (3)
Another stellar 2020/21 campaign followed, with the ex-Sporting CP man delighting those watching on at home, racking up a mammoth 45 goal involvements in 58 outings.
The less said about 2021/22, the better, in truth, with neither United nor Fernandes near the best, even after a thumping 5-1 win over Leeds on the opening day, with the tiring Cristiano Ronaldo circus doing little to benefit his compatriot or the team in general.
Erik ten Hag's subsequent arrival saw the playmaker's impact dry up slightly, although he remained a central figure in both 2022/23 and 2023/24, with two trophies claimed, still recording 29 and 28 goal involvements, respectively, in those two seasons.
From doing it all himself largely under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, that status returned again under Ruben Amorim, with 2024/25 seeing Fernandes truly put his head above the rest, leading United to the Europa League final with 38 goals and assists across all fronts, memorably rifling home a free-kick against Arsenal late in the season.
Bruno-Fernandes-stats-timeless
That form has been maintained this time around, even while again starting out in a deeper role, with the recent win over Fulham taking him up to 12 Premier League assists already, with Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry's record total of 20 firmly in his sights.
While not the prolific force of those Covid-impacted early years, there is a completeness to his game now, with the United skipper playing almost a different game to those around him.
Ranking Fernandes' Man Utd seasons
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Thankfully, too, he's also been aided by the club's spate of summer signings, with the attacking burden having finally been eased on his shoulders.
The most valuable player at Man Utd
So few players over the last decade or so have hit the ground running at Old Trafford, with Fernandes ranking alongside Robin van Persie as one of the more instant transfer success stories.
man-utd-premier-league-giggs-van-persie
Indeed, after claiming the Golden Boot at Arsenal the year prior, the Dutchman went on to net 26 league goals in his first season in Manchester, propelling Sir Alex Ferguson to his 13th and final top-flight title.
He was Premier League proven and showed as much, with that standout 2012/13 campaign seeing 'RVP' notably scoring against the Gunners, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Only two players have achieved that feat since, as per Opta, with the latest figure after Marcus Rashford - Bryan Mbeumo - replicating Van Persie in doing it in his debut season, following a fine start to life in his new surroundings.
There is a quiet clinicality to the Cameroonian's game which perhaps hasn't been seen since the former Netherlands international was on board, with Mbeumo so adept at finishing on either foot.
Mbeumo-Man-City-Arsenal
There have been so many stellar finishes to choose from, be it his early effort from the angle at Anfield, or his composed, slotted strike away at the Emirates, having expertly rounded the onrushing David Raya.
Few will have been sweeter than the recent Manchester derby opener, however, with Van Persie previously enjoying his own memorable moment in the fixture, following that stoppage-time free-kick at the Etihad.
Now with nine goals, including eight in the league, Mbeumo leads the way in the scoring charts at Old Trafford, looking very much the player who bagged 20 times for Brentford in his final season at the Gtech.
Not only ahead of Fernandes, and others, as the top scorer for Michael Carrick's side, he is now also the club's most valuable player too, deemed to be worth €75m (£64m), as per Transfermarkt.
Amad-Mbeumo-Man-Utd
The skipper, meanwhile, is in sixth on the list at €40m (£34m), perhaps impacted by his contract status, albeit with that also a sign that there might still be life after Fernandes.
The likes of Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha, are ready and waiting to take on that talismanic mantle.
Bruno-Fernandes-Man-Utd (3) Related
Forget Mbeumo & Cunha: £19m star is now Man Utd's best signing since Bruno
It's been a wretched decade or so of recruitment at Man Utd, but not every recent signing has failed to deliver.