Bruno Fernandes stat shows why he’s the Premier League’s most creative player – opinion

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Manchester United and Atalanta at Old Trafford on October 20, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

It’s been nearly two years since Bruno Fernandes was brought in to rescue a desperate Manchester United side. Fernandes joined the club in January 2020 and immediately became a fan-favourite at the club.

Despite only joining the club halfway through the 2019/20 campaign, Fernandes quickly reached double figures for goals that season (via Transfermarkt), and that scintillating form continued into the next season, despite the nonexistent off-season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This season, Cristiano Ronaldo has stolen the limelight from his international team-mate and it’s hard to argue with that. Fernandes has, however, extended his fine form behind the scenes. The 27-year-old scored a hat-trick on the opening day of the Premier League, his first at the club.

Since then, United’s stuttering form has been the main talking point but Tuesday night’s Champions League tie at Atalanta was once again a 90-minute affair where Fernandes shone.

The former Sporting captain assisted Ronaldo’s equaliser, his seventh assist in his last seven games in all competitions. His hat-trick of assists in the two games against the Italian side takes his tally to five in the tournament, more than any other player.

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It also took his total of goal involvements at Manchester United to a whopping 77, with 44 of them being goals and the remaining 33 assists – an accumulation no Premier League player has matched since he made his debut in February 2020, according to Opta.

Fernandes’ outstanding ability has been clear for everyone to see for quite a while now but the latest stat simply underlines his excellence in a time where, perhaps, he isn’t getting the credit he deserves.

Kevin de Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, and Romelu Lukaku are all players with huge international reputations but none of the beforementioned stars have been able to equal Fernandes in terms of direct goal involvements – further cementing his place as the Premier League’s most creative player.

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