As Manchester United prepares for what could be the pivotal match of their season, it is likely that the team’s success will once again depend on the exceptional abilities of their captain, Bruno Fernandes.
This season has not seen Fernandes at his best; however, he has recently found his form, contributing a goal or an assist in each of his last three Premier League matches.
With a total of 25 goal contributions across all competitions—nine more than Amad Diallo, who is in second place with 16—the focus should shift from contemplating where United would stand without him to considering how much more effective the 30-year-old could be with stronger teammates.
While the former Sporting CP player is not without flaws, as evidenced by his three red cards this season, his talent certainly merits a position in a championship-winning team. His five years at Old Trafford have thus far resulted in only a League Cup and an FA Cup victory.
| Most chances created – PL in 24/25 | |
|---|---|
| Player | Chances created |
| Cole Palmer | 71 |
| Mohamed Salah | 69 |
| Dejan Kulusevski | 63 |
| Bruno Fernandes | 60 |
| Enzo Fernandez | 57 |
| Mikel Damsgaard | 51 |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 51 |
| Youri Tielemans | 51 |
| Leif Davis | 50 |
| Bryan Mbeumo | 50 |
| Stats via FotMob | |
Whatever lies ahead for the £300k-per-week maestro in Manchester, his arrival from Lisbon back in January 2020 has certainly been an unequivocal success.
Man Utd’s Portuguese connections
Fernandes, who has accumulated 170 goals and assists for the club over 275 appearances, made the £46 million transfer from Sporting just over five years ago, following the path of his idol and fellow countryman, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The seasoned striker was recruited from the Liga Portugal team as a teenager in 2003, evolving from a slender trickster into a formidable athlete during the subsequent six years under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Although his second tenure concluded on a disappointing note, the early days of Ronaldo were a spectacle, mesmerizing defenders with his extraordinary speed and agility, while leading the club to three consecutive Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.
In addition to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ferguson and his team also targeted Sporting to acquire Ronaldo 2.0 in the form of Nani, who contributed 105 goals and assists in 230 matches for United before transferring to Fenerbahce for a mere £4.3 million in 2014.
The Euro 2016 champion joined the club in the same summer as Anderson, who was signed from Porto and famously scored during the penalty shootout in the Champions League final in Moscow.
Regarding more recent acquisitions—excluding the notorious 2011 signing of Bebe from Vitoria and Marcos Rojo’s transfer from Sporting—the Red Devils have seen a return on their £19 million investment in then-Porto teenager Diogo Dalot, who notably concluded the 2023/24 season as the club’s Players’ Player of the Year.
Victor Lindelof, acquired for £30 million from Benfica, is nearing the end of his eight-year tenure in Manchester as his contract approaches expiration, while it appears to be just the beginning of a promising journey for Manuel Ugarte.
INEOS have hit the jackpot on Man Utd’s “Warrior.”
This season has not been particularly memorable, yet the INEOS management may find some optimism in the summer acquisitions. Matthijs de Ligt is starting to establish himself as a reliable centre-back, while Noussair Mazraoui has emerged as arguably the club’s most impressive signing since Fernandes, especially given his modest £13 million transfer fee.
Regarding Ugarte, the midfielder, referred to as a “warrior” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, appears poised to become a key player for the team for many years, having previously excelled under the guidance of Ruben Amorim.
Acquired from Paris Saint-Germain for an estimated initial fee of around £42 million, the Uruguayan, similar to Fernandes and Ronaldo before him, gained significant recognition while playing for Sporting after transferring from another Portuguese club, Famalicao, in 2021.
Since his move to Manchester, following a single season in Paris, the 23-year-old initially faced challenges in securing a place in Erik ten Hag’s plans. However, under Amorim’s mentorship, his role has become more defined, as evidenced by his ranking in the top 6% of Premier League midfielders for tackles made and the top 15% for pass completion per 90 minutes.
Ugarte is both composed with the ball and tenacious without it, embodying his philosophy that “when we have the ball, it’s a game, and when we don’t, it’s a fight.”
This was particularly evident during the 2-2 draw at Anfield in January, where club legend Paul Scholes noted that the midfielder is “really growing in confidence,” as he appeared comfortable against the soon-to-be champions.
The summer signing also had a memorable return to Merseyside to face Everton, scoring a stunning equalizer in the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park, marking an excellent start to his goal tally for the club.
Injuries have occasionally limited his participation; however, Ugarte’s influence is evident in his current valuation of approximately €60 million (£51 million), as reported by Football Transfers. This figure aligns with that of another player associated with Sporting, Fernandes.
It is unlikely that Amorim or INEOS will seek to sell the midfielder in the near future, given his compatibility with the 3-4-3 formation. Nonetheless, this development may indicate a positive shift in recruitment strategies.
With his return to fitness, it is hoped that the £120,000-per-week player can contribute to guiding United to victory against Real Sociedad this evening.
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