Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes don win di Football Writers' Association men’s Footballer of the Year award for dis season. Di midfielder don score eight goals and provide 20 assists for 34 games across all competitions for di Red Devils.
Fernandes finish with 45% of di votes from di FWA wey get over 900 members. He collect 28 votes more than Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice wey come second, while Manchester City striker Erling Haaland take third.
Di Portugal international don play key role for United under interim boss Michael Carrick. United go finish di season without any trophy for di second time, but dem dey on course to finish third for Premier League and secure Champions League spot next season.
He be di first United player to win di FWA men’s award since Wayne Rooney for 2010. Dis impressive 2025-26 campaign come after im future at Old Trafford bin dey uncertain. At di end of last season, club officials tell Fernandes say dem no go stand for im way if he want accept huge offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. Fernandes reject am and then dismiss subsequent interest from other teams for Europe to remain with United.
E be understood say Fernandes contract wey expire for 2027 get option of additional year. Given im performances dis season, e go be remarkable if United no come up with new deal, even if co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe dey try drive down wage costs. Fernandes bin talk for October last year say he no go discuss im future with anybody until after di upcoming World Cup.
Dere is no doubt say Manchester United don give Bruno Fernandes push to get dis award. United don dey play up Fernandes claims and also ensure di Portugal playmaker dey promoted through some recent media engagements. However, dis go don be pointless if Fernandes no deliver at time for di season when United need am to deliver.
For October, when Fernandes talk about qualification for di Champions League, few people think e dey likely. For January, when technical director Jason Wilcox tell di United squad say dat na di aim despite Ruben Amorim dismissal, e seem like tall order. But dem don achieve am with three matches to spare and fit yet end di campaign nearer for points terms to di eventual champions dan any other season since Sir Alex Ferguson retirement 13 years ago. Dat one owe huge amount to Fernandes.
Since returning from rare injury against Burnley, Sunday victory over Liverpool na only di third match out of 16 for all competitions when Fernandes no don score or create goal. Im performances across di season don dey consistently high and worthy of wider recognition.
Twelve months ago, when di debate over Fernandes United future dey rage, di question wey dem dey ask na simply dis: where dem go be without am? Di suspicion na say dem go don dey much closer to relegation dan dem actually be. Di same fit be asked now. Di answer? Dem surely no go dey look forward to Champions League return.
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