Perhaps the most remarkable thing is that it doesn’t even come as a surprise anymore. This is just what the Manchester United superstar does.
He averaged either a goal or an assist in each of the last 14 club games of 2023/24, playing a massive role in Erik ten Hag‘s FA Cup success.
And, if his performance on Tuesday night is anything to go by, the rest of the continent will be quivering in their Nikes with the European Championships now just days away.
Bruno Fernandes only played the second 45 minutes of Portugal’s 4-2 pre-tournament friendly win over Finland. But two goals – including one fierce strike from outside the penalty area – did little to dispel the notion that, with Manchester United‘s talismanic captain in such supreme form, a repeat of Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph eight years on is not beyond the realms of possibility.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes in outstanding form
“He has a superlative level,” Roberto Martinez, Portugal’s head coach, tells O Jogo. “He’s an intelligent player. He can do many things but, for us, his intelligence is fantastic.”
Intelligent, bordering on genius at times. His assist to set up Kobbie Mainoo‘s winner against Manchester City at Wembley a week-and-a-half ago was one Ronaldino, Zinedine Zidane, the finest playmakers of the modern era would have been deified for.
Even the cameraman was taken aback by his gorgeous no-look pass, perfectly weighted and perfectly placed into the onrushing Mainoo’s pass.
“He knows when to press, (when to) pass. When Bruno enters the game, we are stronger,” adds Martinez, the former Everton, Swansea City Wigan Athletic coach far more attack-minded than his Portuguese predecessors and well-suited to eking every ounce of potential out of a fearsome frontline.
“(Fernandes) is very happy, (with) an important freshness. He is a very important player for Portugal and also for the European Championship.”
Surely Ineos won’t sell Bruno Fernandes
At club level, however, Fernandes’ future is shrouded in uncertainty for the first time in his Manchester United career.
As The Guardian point out, the skipper feels he is a little undervalued in comparison to some of his underperforming team-mates in contract terms. At the age of 29, and with so many miles on the clock, do Man United risk extending Fernandes’ deal?
Can the former Sporting Lisbon talisman reach another level, or is he already at the peak of his powers with a decline inevitable?
That is one of many difficult decisions Ineos must make, especially if there is truth to the reports suggesting that a mega-money offer from Saudi Arabia could be on the way.
“I’ve been critical of Bruno over the years and I’m happy to be proven wrong,”legendary Man United captain Roy Keane told ITV Sport after Fernandes’ inspirational FA Cup final performance.
His leadership was outstanding. We’ve always mentioned how brilliant he is as a player…
“Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. You look at Bruno, this play and this finish… That’s where his brilliance is. A lot of players can’t do it. He gave (Mainoo) the perfect pass. Simple, brilliant, effective, lovely.”