Bruno Fernandes in the lead at Manchester United Photo: Getty Images/Oli Scarff An arm band during talks with manager Erik ten Hag on Sunday, and United confirmed that the role was handed over to Fernandes.
The Portugal midfielder was United's de facto captain last season, given that Maguire rarely played after losing his place early in the campaign.
United players were briefed on ten Hag's decision at a team meeting at the Delta Marriott club hotel in New Jersey on Thursday morning local time.
Fernandes' suitability as captain was called into question after his performance in the second half of United's 7-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in March, when he was criticized for his irritable demeanor and theatrics.
But Fernandes has responded impressively since then, and sources close to Ten Hag say the coach appreciates his deep knowledge of the game and strength of communicator.
Fernandes is hugely popular with Manchester United fans. Photo: Getty Images/Matthew Peters
Ten Haag believes that Fernandes, armband or not, has proven himself to be an outstanding leader since joining United in January 2020 for the first £47m from Sporting Lisbon.
He is regarded as an inspiration on and off the pitch and in the dressing room, and is said to embody the culture of high standards and drive to succeed that Ten Haag strives to achieve. cultivate.
Ten Hag believes United have a growing backbone of team leaders such as Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw and expects them to continue their unwavering support for the captain.
Two-time United Player of the Year winner Fernandes has scored 64 goals and provided 54 assists in 185 games for the club.
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March 5th was not a good day for any Manchester United supporter, but it would have been an obvious starting point for those who wanted to present a case against Ten Hag's decision to make Fernandes their new permanent captain.
United's second-half failure at Anfield, when they conceded six times in a 7-0 capitulation, was shocking to witnesses, as was Fernandes' irritability.
Nick he didn't cover himself with glory in the team, but when United turned to their big guns for a hint of leadership, all they got from Fernandes was a sullen theatrical performance. This correspondent was not alone in his criticism of the behavior of the Portuguese midfielder.
As always in this age of shocking athletes and criminal rage on social media, the consequences at times reached hysterical heights, and while Fernandes' antics were inappropriate for the United captain, calls in some quarters to strip him of the armband he regularly wore during Maguire's frequent absence did not seem well thought out.
Ten Hag, for his part, was strongly supportive of his man, but he was not the only one who was willing to miss out on one particularly bad day in office for a player who had otherwise done more than anyone else to raise standards at the club over the previous three years.
Anyone who sat in the front row and watched the United dressing room threaten to tear apart last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then Ralf Rangnick will not forget Fer's persistent attempts nandesha maintain the appearance of order amidst chaos and toxicity.
He was the link that prevented the bad situation from getting worse, and while his arm-waving and incessant moaning can sometimes annoy teammates, not to mention United fans or opposition supporters, everyone at the club admits that this man is obsessed with the idea of dragging the team forward together.
Fernandes struggled to control his emotions during Liverpool's 7-0 thrashing of United. Photo: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt
This became evident again last season when Fernandes refused to let his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo's backstage misfortune and selfishness eat away at the emergence of a new, tighter dressing room.
Indeed, a better understanding of Fernandes' mentality than that Anfield debacle came at the end of last season, when the Portuguese stressed that anyone who truly understands United's size and ambition as a club, won't try to present it as a success.
Similarly, it reflected Fernandez's mindset as he sought confidence in the club's direction before signing a contract extension last year, unwilling to accept a new offer simply because it would make him more money. He wanted to know that the club was going to act together.
Fernandes does not like to play for time and settle for second place, he does not speak platitudes and does not try to embellish situations. He, like Ten Hag, wants better — much better — and it's no surprise that a player made in the image and likeness of a coach receives an armband on a permanent basis.
Does it help that with Casemiro and Martinez, United have more winners and leaders in the dressing room? Certainly. Both of these players would likely have their own claims to the captaincy, but Fernandes, with his impressive command of English, intimate knowledge of the club, match-winning ability and experience in the role, was the obvious choice to replace Maguire. The only surprise was that the decision had not been made earlier.
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