“I think he’s underrated,” were James Maddison’s words on Monday Night Football last week about Manchester United’s ever-reliable captain Bruno Fernandes.
As was evident last time at Old Trafford, Maddison has defended himself as a genuine genius and it is almost a crime that some still overlook the Portuguese’s qualities.
Following his brace and superb assist against Molineux, the 31-year-old also had a goal and an assist in the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth, making Erling Haaland (20) the only player to have been involved in more than 12 goals in the Premier League this season.
The playmaker’s best moment of the season arguably came in a reckless clash with the Cherries. He hit a picturesque free kick into the roof of the goal net, leveling the score with the home side.
It wasn’t clear yet, but Monday showed that Fernandes, despite perhaps not being in his preferred position, remains someone United should build around rather than try to move on from there.
In fact, the Red Devils just need to find a suitable long-term partner in their midfield duo, as Ruben Amorim seems to want to do.
Manchester United boss Amorim aims to sign former Premier League star
midfield. midfield. midfield. There appears to be little doubt about United’s priorities heading into 2026, despite persistent links regarding the club’s interest in Cherries star Antoine Semenyo.
Koby Mainu, who has yet to start a Premier League game this season, seems closer to leaving than staying, while Manuel Ugarte, who didn’t even feature on the bench in the last game, has already spent time on loan at the Theater of Dreams.
Fernandes’ current partner Casemiro is nearing the final six months of his contract, so a suitable successor in the form of Adam Wharton and Elliott Anderson is being touted.
It is clear that there is a desire to invest in talent with long-term potential, but reports suggest that Amorim would like to take the experienced route by signing a left-fielder with a proven track record in the Premier League.
According to reports in Spain, the Portuguese is said to be leading the club’s interest in former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Ruben Neves, with the 28-year-old’s own current contract at Al Hilal set to expire next summer.
The Saudis are in no rush to sell, but the expiration of this contract could mean Amorim and others could sign a deal in January or secure a pre-contract agreement ahead of the summer.
Why Manchester United are targeting another Fernandes
Had things gone differently, Fernandes might have been alongside his Portuguese colleague Neves at Al Hilal, with the United captain openly talking about summer negotiations with the Pro League side.
Heading into January, if Amorim’s wishes go ahead, his compatriots could well return to Manchester to form a fresh midfield pairing, and the chance to sign Neves at a knockdown price seems too good an opportunity to turn down.
A potential partner for Fernandes, the former Wolves hero could be something of a replica of his international colleague, having been something of a talisman in his own right back at Molineux.
Signed from Porto ahead of Wolves’ promotion-winning season in 2017-18, the all-action star spent six productive years at the Old Gold, scoring 30 goals in 253 games for the club.
Although not as prolific as Fernandes, he has a real flair for the spectacular lifestyle of regularly flying home from long distances in a style that has become almost a trademark. In fact, 12 of his first 15 efforts came from outside the 18-year window.
As was made clear on Monday night, Fernandes is also a master at range, sharing the spoils with new teammate Matheus Cunha when it comes to goals scored outside the box by Premier League players last season.
Like Fernandes, Neves’ quality has perhaps not always translated into rave reviews or glowing praise, with analyst Raj Chauhan even suggesting last November that Neves was “the most underrated player in world football” in recent years.
Neves – PL last 2 seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (*per game) | 22/23 | 21/22 |
game | 35 | 33 |
the goal | 6 | 4 |
assist | 1 | 2 |
A big opportunity has arisen | 1 | 3 |
Key pass* | 0.9 | 0.8 |
Pass accuracy* | 84% | 84% |
Total Win Duels* | 53% | 48% |
Dribbling breakthrough* | 1.2 | 1.9 |
Loss of ownership* | 12.0 | 12.6 |
Statistics by Sofascore | ||
Of course, that may be due to his retreat from the public eye following his move to Saudi Arabia in 2023, but the 63-cap sensation should not be discounted or ignored, even though he is still firmly established in the national team under manager Roberto Martinez.
In his last Premier League season (2022/23), Neves ranked in the top 20% of midfielders for progressive passing, top 16% for total shots, and top 14% for interceptions, according to FBref, with Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo considered to be two of the five players most statistically similar to him.
He may not be a real long-term deal, but like Fernandes before him, the 5ft 11in ace could be an immediate hit at Old Trafford and prove the midfield solution United have needed for a long time.
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