It is easy to overlook that Manchester United had been a staff going nowhere previous to Bruno Fernandes‘ arrival, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first full season in cost having hit the skids by that stage.
The ultimate sport earlier than Fernandes’ £56m signing in late January 2020 had seen United lose 2-0 at house to Burnley, their twelfth Premier League defeat since Solskjaer was named everlasting boss the earlier March. They’d solely gained 11 occasions in that interval.
Come the top of 2019/20, following a Covid-disrupted marketing campaign, the Purple Devils had completed in third following a final-day win over Leicester Metropolis, with Fernandes racking up 20 objectives and assists in simply his first 20 video games for the membership in all competitions.
From the outset, the Portuguese genius has been the difference-maker, and continues to be so, though now might be the time to try to ease that artistic burden on him.
Man Utd in talks to signal Portuguese ahead for Carrick
There’s been a stark reliance on Fernandes in a artistic sense at Previous Trafford for thus lengthy now, the 31-year-old arguably hitting his peak following a record-breaking twenty first help of the season on the weekend.
All of the give attention to the captain’s heroics has masked the struggles of these round him in that regard, with no participant even getting shut by way of top-flight assists.
Certainly, guess what number of the participant ranked in second place racked up? Simply 4, courtesy of Patrick Dorgu. The gulf in that division between Fernandes and the remaining is seismic.
|
Man Utd – PL Assists 25/26 |
|
|---|---|
|
Participant |
Assists |
|
Fernandes |
21 |
|
Dorgu |
4 |
|
Amad |
3 |
|
Dalot |
3 |
|
Mbeumo |
3 |
|
Casemiro |
2 |
|
Cunha |
2 |
|
Maguire |
2 |
|
Mainoo |
2 |
That might all change with new signings, nevertheless, with Italian outlet Tuttosport – by way of United shops – suggesting that talks have been held concerning a deal for Fernandes’ compatriot, Afonso Moreira.
As per the report, INEOS have made enquiries concerning a deal for the 21-year-old, albeit whereas set to face rival curiosity from golf equipment in Germany and Italy.
His present aspect Lyon, amid their ongoing monetary points, may money in for a charge of simply €25m (£21m), having beforehand offered Rayan Cherki to Manchester Metropolis on an identical discount deal final summer time.
Why Moreira might be one other Fernandes at Man Utd
It has been no shock that Fernandes’ streak of assists has come following a string of marquee summer time signings final 12 months, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko all hitting double figures for league objectives.
Extra is required creatively from each Cunha and Mbeumo, nevertheless, the pair registering simply 5 assists between them, whereas Amad’s ultimate day contribution was solely his third help and first in 2026.
That might nicely be the place Moreira makes the distinction, nevertheless, the teenager having fun with a glowing particular person marketing campaign in France, following his arrival from Portugal final summer time.
Schooled at Fernandes’ former membership, Sporting CP, the promising playmaker can function all throughout the frontline, but is often deployed off the left flank, permitting his artistic skills to flourish in that extensive function.
In all, he ended 2025/26 with 4 objectives and 7 assists in Ligue 1, whereas having created ten ‘massive possibilities’ and averaged 1.2 key passes per sport.
Fernandes, for context, was streets forward with 33 ‘massive possibilities’ created of his personal, though once more, the chasm between him and the remaining was important at United, with Amad sat in second on simply seven.
Moreira won’t be at his compatriot’s degree simply but, however he might be nearer to Fernandes in a artistic sense than anybody else presently at Previous Trafford.
Beforehand hailed as “one of the gifted gamers of his era” by scout Jacek Kulig, Moreira additionally impressed in European competitors in 2025/26, scoring and helping 4 objectives in simply seven video games within the Europa League, regardless of solely really beginning 3 times.
That’s all of the extra outstanding contemplating he had solely had a short style of senior soccer previous to this season, spending a lot of his time with Sporting’s ‘B’ staff.
Regardless, he seems to be like one other Portuguese celebrity within the making, in an identical vein to Fernandes, with the prospect there for United and INEOS to probably strike a discount deal this summer time.
Certainly, the participant who was handed his debut by Ruben Amorim in Lisbon may now be the most recent participant with Sporting connections to glitter in Manchester.
It is labored out nicely for many of them…
Manchester United might be looking for to bolster their centre-back ranks this summer time.
