Bruno Fernandes Named FWA Men's Footballer of the Year
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been awarded the Football Writers' Association's (FWA) men's Footballer of the Year honor.
The midfielder has contributed significantly this season, scoring eight goals and providing 20 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils.
Fernandes, an international player for Portugal, has been instrumental in Manchester United's improved performances under interim manager Michael Carrick.
Although United are poised to complete the season without securing a trophy for the second consecutive year, they are on track to finish third in the Premier League, ensuring qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League.
Fernandes is the first Manchester United player to receive the FWA men's award since Wayne Rooney in 2010.
The 31-year-old joined Manchester United from Sporting CP in January 2020 for a transfer fee of £67.7 million. Earlier this season, he marked his 300th appearance for the club.
His strong performance in the 2025-26 campaign follows a period when his future at Old Trafford was uncertain.
At the conclusion of last season, club officials informed Fernandes they would not obstruct his potential move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, which had presented a substantial offer.
Fernandes declined the offer and subsequently rejected interest from other European clubs, choosing to remain with Manchester United.
It is understood that Fernandes' contract, which runs until 2027, includes an option for an additional year.
Given his current form, it is anticipated that Manchester United will seek to offer him a new contract, despite co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's efforts to reduce wage expenditures.
Fernandes stated in October of the previous year that he would not discuss his future until after the upcoming World Cup.
Fernandes Delivered When United Needed Him Most - Analysis
There is little doubt that Manchester United supported Bruno Fernandes' candidacy for this award.
The club has actively promoted Fernandes' achievements and facilitated his visibility through various media engagements.
However, such efforts would have been ineffective had Fernandes not performed at a high level during critical moments in the season.
In October, when Fernandes spoke about the goal of qualifying for the Champions League, few considered it achievable.
By January, despite the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, technical director Jason Wilcox reiterated that qualification remained the objective, though it appeared challenging.
Manchester United secured Champions League qualification with three matches remaining and may conclude the season with a points tally closer to the champions than in any campaign since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement 13 years ago. This success owes much to Fernandes' contributions.
Since returning from a rare injury sustained against Burnley, the victory over Liverpool on Sunday marked only the third occasion in 16 matches across all competitions where Fernandes did not either score or assist.
His performances throughout the season have been consistently strong and deserving of broader recognition.
One year ago, amid debates regarding Fernandes' future at Manchester United, the question was: where would the club be without him? The consensus was that the team would have been nearer to relegation than their actual standing.
The same question applies now, with the conclusion that without Fernandes, Manchester United would likely not be anticipating a return to the Champions League.
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