Michael Carrick addressed Bruno Fernandes’ Manchester United future after the club captain broke the Premier League assists record in a single season
Michael Carrick has addressed Bruno Fernandes’ future at Manchester United after the club captain put himself in the Premier League history books.
United rounded off the 2025/26 with a resounding 3-0 win on the road at Brighton as Carrick marked his first match as the new permanent manager after an incredibly impressive spell as interim boss.
Having already secured Champions League football next season and a third place finish before heading to the south coast, all that remained to put the cherry on top of the season was Fernandes breaking the all-time Premier League assists record in a single season.
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The Portuguese moved clear of Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne to stand alone at the top of the tally when he supplied a pinpoint 21st assist of the campaign for Patrick Dorgu to break the deadlock with a powerful header in the first half.
Fernandes then got himself on the scoresheet at the start of the second half to cap off his brilliant season just 12 months on from it looking like he could be heading out the Old Trafford exit door.
Following the victory on the south coast, Carrick was asked about the future of his record-breaking captain. Giving a firm indication that Fernandes’ next season lies in Manchester, he said: “I’ve got no reason to think otherwise.”
Fernandes played the full 90 minutes with Carrick explaining his captain didn’t want to leave the pitch. “He wanted to stay on, he wants to stay every single game because he’s enjoying his football, which is fantastic,” Carrick said.
United received a £100million bid for their captain last summer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, but Fernandes was insistent he wanted to remain in Manchester and rejected the move.
This summer appears to be a completely different picture with the 31-year-old set to lead his team-mates out in the Champions League once again next season.
Speaking to Sky Sports after Carrick’s appointment, Fernandes said: “Obviously it is a very important step for our club. We need stability in terms of managing and since Michael came to the club, you know how calm he is and the calmness he gives to the team but also in the moments he needs to put pressure on us he does too.
“He knows the club, what it means and what it demands to be at this club, we are very excited for what is coming. We finished strong and that’s a good sign for what is coming.”