The debate around Bruno Fernandes has shifted from “Best at Man Utd?” to “Best in the league?”, and the latest stunning realisation won’t calm that debate.
Bruno Fernandes has found a second wind at Man Utd with Michael Carrick’s arrival, as he is on pace to break the Premier League assist record this season.
His importance to Man Utd is unquestionable, but it’s time he gets his flowers for being one of the best in the world, because that argument is getting increasingly stronger.
The latest one yet might be the strongest, because he clears “Premier League’s greatest” Mohamed Salah in a key area despite a three-year headstart for the Liverpool forward.
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What does Bruno Fernandes have to do in 2026 to challenge for the Ballon d’Or?
Win the World Cup? Win the Premier League POTY? Break the assist record?
Bruno Fernandes Ballon d'Or Talking points graphic.
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Bruno Fernandes’s creative output puts Salah to shame
Salah has received a lot of plaudits of late after he announced he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
He is getting shouts of being the Premier League’s greatest foreign import of all time, which is strengthened by his two PL titles.
Bruno Fernandes doesn’t have those yet, but on a pure talent basis, Fernandes is putting Salah to shame in a key attacking area.
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Since the start of the 2017/18 season, Fernandes has created the fifth-most big chances in Europe’s top-five leagues (131), while Salah is on 145.
The catch? Fernandes has been playing in a “top-five European league” only in 2020, thereby giving Salah a three-year headstart.
Granted, Salah is a prolific scorer as well, but at the same time, Fernandes has played in some of the worst Man Utd teams since coming to Old Trafford.
Furthermore, this creative output hasn’t come at the cost of scoring, as he has cleared 100 goals for the club in all competitions as well.
If he’s doing all that in a team that recently set back-to-back worst-ever PL seasons record, then it’s not even a debate how clear of Salah he would be if he played in a team of comparable quality.
Fernandes’ game will age like wine
The best thing about Fernandes’ game, which will allow him to move further clear of Salah, is that his style of play will age like fine wine.
Bruno Fernandes is up there with United’s greats in the Premier League era
Do you think Bruno can get to 300 combined goals and assists for United?
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Unlike Salah, who relied on explosive acceleration and agility, which decline with age, Fernandes is a master of reading the game.
Salah’s form fell off a cliff this season as age takes its toll, while Fernandes will get better with experience as his mind sharpens.
He has shown as much this season because he’s so good with his brain that he can dictate the pace of the game and create chances at will by standing still.
Just a PL title or another major trophy is preventing him from being talked about in the same echelons as the Premier League greats.
In terms of pure ability, he’s already there, and he’ll only rise further up that list.
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