BRUNO FERNANDES has had an unforgettable first year at Manchester United.
It was the will they, won’t they saga of the winter transfer window.
But when the Red Devils finally got their man, he didn’t disappoint.
The week prior to Fernandes’ January 29 arrival, a stodgy United performance yielded a horrifying 2-0 defeat to Burnley at Old Trafford.
But with their new signing in the team, they wouldn’t lose again in the Premier League all season, blitzing their way into the top four.
Central to that, and subsequent, success has been their attacking midfielder’s unfailing creativity.
Fernandes, 26, actually has a pass completion percentage of 76.1 in the Premier League this season, which is below United’s team average of 83.1.
But herein lies part of what makes him so good, his utter confidence in himself when trying difficult, high-risk passes, that could lead directly to a chance or a goal.
And often they do.
In fact, Fernandes has created more than double the number of chances of any other player in Man United’s squad this season.
The Portuguese has laid on 116 chances in his 42 matches for United, with 15 of them resulting in goals.
Juan Mata has managed the next best amount with 50, while Anthony Martial has created 46.
Luke Shaw has done a decent job making 45 from full-back, and Marcus Rashford 43 from predominantly wide.
Fernandes is also the Red Devils’ top scorer this year with 25.
And only Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Fred have made more tackles than the tenacious attacker.
With his 2020 having been so productive, United fans will be excited to see what’s next for the new darling of the Stretford End, with their side sitting third in the Premier League table at Christmas.
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