The stats that show Bruno Fernandes is one of the Premier League’s greatest EVER playmakers as he continues to carry Man United

After Bruno Fernandes put the gloss on yet another superb individual display for Manchester United in the 3-0 win at Leicester, the 3,000-strong away section serenaded him with a passionate rendition of the song dedicated to their captain.

‘He’s our Portuguese magnifico,’ goes the last line of the chant.

Magnifico, indeed. Fernandes had just scored his 16th goal of the season, which came after he had provided his 14th and 15th assists of a campaign that is threatening to rival his best in a United shirt.

The Portuguese star’s 31 goal involvements are behind only Mohamed Salah (54), who is almost single-handedly propelling Liverpool to the Premier League title, and Manchester City’s Erling Halaand (33).

Since moving to Old Trafford in a deal worth up to £68million in January 2020, Fernandes has registered 80 assists in all competitions. Only Kevin De Bruyne, widely considered as one of the best of his generation, has more with 90.

Fernandes’ second assist in the cruise-control victory at Leicester on Sunday put him in the illustrious company of Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Eric Cantona, and David Beckham in being the only United players to score 50 goals and make 50 assists in the Premier League.

Fernandes swept home United’s third, which came after he had set up their first two goals

United’s captain now has 16 goals and 15 assists in Ruben Amorim’s struggling side

The 30-year-old also now has 112 league goal involvements, the 10th-most for the club, having scored 62 goals and made 50 assists. In total, he has scored 95 goals and made 81 assists in 277 appearances for United.

Even the Portuguese’s most ardent detractors – perhaps including Roy Keane – would accept these are impressive numbers, especially considering Fernandes is playing in a United team his own manager Ruben Amorim has described as ‘maybe the worst’ in the club’s history.

His statistics are up there with the very best playmakers in Premier League history, even a prime De Bruyne.

The Belgian has 118 assists and 70 goals in the league for Man City, compared to 50 and 62, respectively, for Fernandes. 

The United captain, however, has created the most chances of any player in the last 10 seasons of the competition with 505, 13 ahead of De Bruyne.

An assist or goal is more valuable but it is not his fault that he has not had the calibre of striker that De Bruyne has to put away those opportunities.

Fernandes also has the most goals and assists combined – 41, 24 goals and 17 assists – of any player in the history of the Europa League. He deserves more than Europe’s second-tier tournament.

But the midfielder’s influence on United goals far beyond goals, assists and chances created.

Fernandes’ numbers are rivalling the great Premier League playmakers, including Kevin De Bruyne

But Fernandes has faced fierce criticism from the likes of ex-United captain Roy Keane

The Portuguese star’s stunning form included a hat-trick in the 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad

Fernandes is without doubt United’s best player. He is the beating heart of the team. Everything goes through him, whether he is in the deeper role under Amorim or further forward as a No 10.

His commitment also cannot be questioned. Late on in the recent win over Ipswich, when United played with 10 men for almost an hour, it was a clearly exhausted Fernandes who had chased back to stop a dangerous move before attempting to launch a counter-attack of his own.

In the second half at Leicester, it was Fernandes sprinting to cover his defenders after Foxes goalkeeper Mads Hermansen had attempted to catch them out by launching a long ball forward.

And in the dying stages of the 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the Europa League at Old Trafford on Thursday, it was Fernandes busting a gut to get in the box, complete his hat-trick and seal progression to the quarter-finals in a season-saving win.

Yet there are still those, including in the club’s own fanbase, who do not hold Fernandes in the same esteem and believe his attitude is not befitting of the position of captain.

Keane’s main gripe in his now infamous, explosive rant about Fernandes – which the Portuguese gave a near pitch-perfect response to after the Leicester game – was his supposed lack of leadership, a view shared by a minority of United supporters.

Yes, he can be petulant. Amorim himself has publicly admitted the player throws his arms about a bit too much and there are times when his on-field conduct causes even his biggest supporters to wince.

But he leads in other ways. He leads by guiding the club’s young players and by being the shining light during the 20-time champions’ darkest days.

Fans could only dread to think what might have happened had he fully entertained advances from elsewhere. A United without their magnifico simply does not bear thinking about.