Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes told ‘you’re not my kind of captain’ in brutal message

Bruno Fernandes has divided opinion since he was handed the Manchester United captaincy, and his leadership skills have been questioned by one former Red Devil

Danny Drinkwater has confessed he wouldn’t choose Bruno Fernandes as his Manchester United captain. Despite the midfielder’s impressive form of late, Fernandes continues to attract negative attention from some sections as a contentious choice for the armband.

The 30-year-old was handed the United captaincy by Erik ten Hag in 2023 following Harry Maguire‘s decline in form. But despite some standout performances this term, the Portuguese star has faced challenges in bringing about change and has been critiqued for his leadership style.

One-time Premier League champion Drinkwater spent more than 10 years at United before moving to Leicester City in 2012. And he has joined the chorus of skeptics, under the belief Fernandes’ approach to the role falls short of the standards he sets as a player.

“He’s on fire. Number-wise, he’s untouchable at United. He’s carried them for a couple of seasons now,” he said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast (via the Manchester Evening News). “Whether or not he’s a captain – I’m gonna sit on the fence with that.”

Pressed for an explanation as to why that is, he continued: “I don’t know. Personally, he’s just not my kind of captain. I like someone leading me out who’s almost chest out – not saying he doesn’t do that – a bit more old school. But I think that’s just me as a player and person really.”

Drinkwater – who hung up his boots in 2023, one year after leaving Chelsea – was on the books at United at the same time as Ferdinand. However, he failed to make a senior appearance for the club and was repeatedly sent out on loan before hitting a rich vein of form at Leicester.

Fernandes has been on sparkling form for United this season, racking up 16 goals and 15 assists in 44 games, with time still left in the campaign. His numbers are only second to his remarkable 2020/21 season when he notched 28 goals and 17 assists, figures that seem a stretch for him to surpass this year.

Disciplinary issues have given Fernandes’ critics fodder thanks to his three red cards in recent months. He was sent off against Porto in the Champions League, as well as in Premier League defeats to Tottenham and Wolves.

The choice of Fernandes as captain raised eyebrows among some, notably United icon Roy Keane, who unleashed a tirade on the Stick to Football podcast. He lambasted certain players as “f***ing imposters” and challenged Fernandes’ leadership beyond his technical prowess.

Fernandes has since made a statement on the pitch, delivering a hat-trick in a Europa League win against Real Sociedad and following it up with a goal and two assists versus Drinkwater’s former team, Leicester. The talismanic midfielder subsequently revealed comments like Keane’s do get under his skin.

“It’s the way he thinks about me as a player, as a captain. I have to respect that,” he told Sky Sports. “I try to do the things in my own way to be not the best captain but person and team-mate as I can. I do it every day. I try to be an example in everything I do in the training sessions, on the pitch.

“But obviously, not everyone will like I.T., not everyone will think in the same way, and I respect every opinion of everyone. I have to accept there is a lot of margin for improvement in my game and my leadership.”

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