Fernandes: The trophies, the assist record and his future

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has created 29 'big chances' so far this season Manchester United reporterPublished6 minutes agoManchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has not come close to winning the Premier League or Champions League since joining the club in 2020. He did lift a couple of domestic cups under Erik ten Hag - and if United finish third this season, it will be a position they have only bettered once during Fernandes' time at Old Trafford. But it represents a meagre return for a player many argue is United's best signing since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and someone, they argue, who deserves a place among the club's best in the Premier League era. On Friday, he was named the Football Writers' Association's footballer of the year. But Fernandes is not one for coveting individual awards. When he spoke to the media in October, he said: "I don't see it that one player is better than another because he wins more trophies. Not every time the best player in the world is the one that wins the Ballon d'Or. "I want to win trophies. I want to be recognised by the many good things I did for the club, for bringing something back to the club, not just my individual numbers." United will not win a trophy this season, but there are still a couple of significant milestones ahead of Fernandes. He needs just one more assist to equal the individual Premier League record of 20 in a single campaign - jointly held by Arsenal great Thierry Henry and former Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne. Fernandes is eight clear of Manchester City's Rayan Cherki in the Premier League's assists chart this season, with West Ham's Jarrod Bowen third with 10 assists. Beating the record clearly means a lot to Fernandes, who will be a key part of Portugal's World Cup squad this summer. So much so, one of his United team-mates told him he felt Fernandes would previously have taken a shot against Brentford recently, rather than set up striker Benjamin Sesko. Fernandes rejected that notion. Fernandes is also favourite to win the prestigious PFA Players' Player of the Year award, which Henry and De Bruyne both took twice. Despite the lack of major trophies, would the assist record and another player of the year award confirm his status as one of the most creative forces of the Premier League era? The 'assist king' tends to be thought of as a creator. In the past five seasons, Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has had the most assists twice, and strikers Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) and Harry Kane (then of Tottenham) have done it once each. None of that trio would be regarded as a creator in the mould of playmaker De Bruyne, who finished top on four occasions. Maybe a better comparison with Fernandes in terms of prizes won would be Cesc Fabregas during his time at Arsenal. In that spell, when he had seven years as a regular first-team player until leaving in 2011, the Spain international had the most assists in two seasons. The biggest domestic prize he won in that time was the FA Cup - and it wasn't until he returned to England with Chelsea, after a stint at Barcelona, that Fabregas won the Premier League. During the Premier League's early years, Southampton's Matt le Tissier and Liverpool's Steve McManaman both finished top of the assists chart. They didn't win a league title either. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard finished top of the assists chart in 2013-14, won the PFA Player of the Year award in 2006 and its FWA equivalent in 2009. While he did inspire Liverpool to a remarkable Champions League victory in 2005, Gerrard never won the league, but no-one would question his status as a Premier League great. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Bruno Fernandes has scored 106 goals in 324 appearances for Manchester United Whether Fernandes receives individual accolades or not, United fans will want to be certain their talisman is staying. His contract has a year to run, and the club have an option for another season. After turning down a mammoth financial offer to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal last summer, there had been an expectation Fernandes would leave if United failed to secure Champions League qualification. With that now achieved, there is a desire on the player's side to start talking over an extension. United are not unwilling to talk but are determined not to deviate from a pre-stated desire to keep their wage bill under control. The club feel they are in a strong position given Fernandes will be 33 when his contract expires if the option is triggered. What will focus minds on all sides is a release clause set at 65m euros (£56.23m) that would allow him to join a club outside England provided it is triggered early enough. Fernandes is known to be enthused by the challenges ahead at Old Trafford. It remains to be seen how that would be affected if the release clause is triggered and United have failed to meet his expe

Fernandes: The trophies, the assist record and his future

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