Cristiano Ronaldo’s Exit Threw Bruno Fernandes Under the Bus at Manchester United- “His Name Attracted More Attention Than Mine”

Bruno Fernandes has not had it easy at Manchester United. Fans and experts have been critical of the player’s impact following his move to Old Trafford. To add to his headache, everyone expects a lot more from the Portuguese, and rightfully so, considering he bears the weight of leading the team. However, that wasn’t always the case! Fernandes, in an interview, talked about the burden on him at Manchester United following Cristiano Ronaldo‘s decision to leave the club in 2022.

Bruno Fernandes operates at the heart of United’s lineup, with the team’s success very reliant on his performance. The playmaker has a crucial role to play on his side, and fans have huge expectations of the player. However, it seems like the weight of the expectations has taken a toll on the Portuguese midfielder.

In an interview with the media outlet Abola, Fernandes stated, “I have that notion, but it’s part of it, not only because I’m captain of the Manchester United team but also because of the standard I’ve created since arriving here. This is exclusively my fault on the positive side. Because I did good things. I am capable of doing better and they criticize me for that.”

He then claimed that the pressure on him has increased a lot with Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit as earlier people were more focused on the 39-year-old. The Manchester United skipper added, “This has been more on my shoulders since Cris left here, which is normal. His name attracted more attention than mine. They probably fall more on away players than on home players. Obviously, I don’t like seeing my name and face in negative headlines, but it’s part of our profession and it is what it is.”

Bruno Fernandes, ever since his move to Manchester United, has emerged as a crucial player for the team. He played a crucial role last season, assisting the team to secure a place in the top four. However, things haven’t worked out well for the midfielder this season, with the Portuguese like a shell of his former shelf.

How has Bruno Fernandes fared following Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit?

While everyone expected Bruno Fernandes to step up his game to a different level after being appointed Manchester United’s skipper, the added weight of the responsibility has evidently taken a toll on the player’s performance. Once amongst the top playmakers in the Premier League, the Portuguese midfielder has fallen down the pecking order in the past few seasons. Fernandes’ performances this season have been subpar compared to the benchmark he’s set for himself.

READ MORE: Joao Cancelo Claims Cristiano Ronaldo Is Way Past His Prime & Portugal NT Doesn’t Depend On Him Entirely

The Portuguese midfielder has made 44 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils this season. Fernandes is edging close to the 4000 minutes mark, with the midfielder spending 3890 minutes on the field. The Manchester United skipper, during this time, has managed just 26 goal contributions, including 12 goals and 14 assists.

His scoring ratio has dropped to 0.13 per 90 minutes, which is considerably low for a player of his caliber. His play-making skills have also taken a hit, with his assist numbers dropping to 0.27 per 90 minutes. It will be interesting to see how the Man United skipper turns things around, with the club looking to take a drastic step to turn things for the new season.

READ MORE: Goncalo Ramos Unveils How Replacing a Struggling Cristiano Ronaldo Catapulted Him to a ‘Different Level’