Bruno Fernandes: Danny Murphy makes bold claim about United maestro

Old Trafford has found its heartbeat again, and it is pounding to the rhythm of Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese captain delivered another masterclass in Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur, cementing his status as the catalyst behind Manchester United’s sudden surge under caretaker boss Michael Carrick.

Since Ruben Amorim’s departure at the start of last month, United have won four consecutive league matches—City, Arsenal, Fulham and Spurs have all been swept aside—and Fernandes has been the undisputed conductor. Restored to his preferred No. 10 role after spending much of the campaign in a deeper berth, the 31-year-old has created 23 chances in the last five fixtures alone, taking his season tally to a league-best 74, fully 27 clear of nearest challenger Declan Rice.

The numbers are staggering. In 314 appearances for the club, Fernandes has now contributed directly to 200 goals, reaching the landmark quicker than any Premier League player bar Wayne Rooney, who hit 200 in 295 games. Even during last season’s dismal 15th-place finish, he still managed 19 goals and 19 assists in 57 matches across all competitions; this year he tops the division’s assist chart with 12.

His renaissance has not gone unnoticed. Speaking on Match of the Day, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy lavished praise on the United skipper: “Bruno got his goal with a wonderful finish and topped off a brilliant performance, considering he actually had one of his poorer performances last week. I did the game against Fulham and he wasn’t at his best. But at the moment, he’s arguably the best No. 10 in Europe.”

With fewer than 18 months remaining on his current deal—United hold an option for a further year—Fernandes’ long-term future has been the subject of mounting speculation. Yet insiders insist the midfielder’s focus is fixed on sustaining the club’s upward trajectory until a permanent manager is appointed this summer.

As United plot a fresh start, tying down their Portuguese Magnifico appears non-negotiable. If the last five matches are any indication, Fernandes remains the one player capable of transforming ambition into tangible reward at the Theatre of Dreams.