- Bryan Mbuemo praises Bruno Fernandes for his impact
- Comments on ‘great captain’ who likes to ‘moan’
- Fernandes’ form has taken spotlight away from Cameroonian’s goal drought
Across the Premier League, there are few players who divide opinion more than Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
The similarity is often like that of Marmite – he is either loved or hated. For United fans, there is barely a reason to do the latter as Fernandes has enjoyed his best individual season to date as a Red.
In a fresh take on the Portuguese playmaker, teammate Bryan Mbuemo has offered insight into what it is like to play under the 31-year-old’s leadership. The forward weighed up Fernandes’ personality against his competitive streak in a recent interview.
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Mbeumo Hails Fernandes as ‘Great Captain’
In an exclusive interview with Peter Hall from The iPaper, Mbuemo was quick to praise his teammate Bruno Fernandes.
“He [Fernandes] is one of the first guys I met here. Really smiley, happy, welcoming. He said to me that he was happy I had joined, which is a big praise, knowing what he achieved in this club.”
The Cameroonian joined United as an established Premier League player from Brentford last summer. There, he played 242 times for the Bees, scoring 70 goals and registering 51 assists.
Mbuemo continued: “He is a great captain, even if sometimes he likes to moan!”
Fernandes has been captain of the Reds ever since taking over from Harry Maguire under Erik ten Hag in July 2023. The midfielder is infamous for his flailing arms, which can come across as whiny. Yet, much of the time, he is quick to demand the best from his teammates in the same way he expects of himself.
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Mbuemo Must Be Thankful for Utd Captain
Had Fernandes left for Saudi Arabia last summer, Mbuemo would not even have had the chance to play with the Portuguese star. Yet, he decided to stay and there will be no regrets on his part for that.
That hypothetical scenario would have had repercussions on Mbuemo, too. The former Brentford star eased into life at Old Trafford, leading the scoring charts in a difficult period. Yet, since his return from AFCON 2026, his form has faltered. Goals against Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs were recorded on his return, which coincided with Michael Carrick’s decision to play him as a number nine.
However, since his last assist in February, the 26-year-old has failed to contribute in the last eleven games. Had Fernandes not been scooping up the numbers, the pressure would have really hit Mbuemo as a ‘saviour’ for the side.
Instead, Fernandes is closing in on becoming the assist king. With two games to play, he aims to equal and surpass the records of Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry’s all-time tally of 20.
Mbuemo has every right to praise his captain. Not only for his collective contributions, but also for saving him from the spotlight as a result of the current rut he finds himself in.
