How many world-class players are in the Premier League? There are more than a handful of footballers who present valid claims for this prestigious honor. Mohamed Salah, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk have emerged as consistently brilliant fulcrums for Liverpool over the years, although they’ve all shown signs of decline this season in what has […]
How many world-class players are in the Premier League?
There are more than a handful of footballers who present valid claims for this prestigious honor. Mohamed Salah, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk have emerged as consistently brilliant fulcrums for Liverpool over the years, although they’ve all shown signs of decline this season in what has proven to be a futile title defense: on the other hand, Hugo Ekitiké and Dominik Szoboszlai have taken their game to extraordinary heights under Arne Slot. Over in London, meanwhile, there are a number of plethora of contenders. Moisés Caicedo and Cole Palmer proved essential in Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup victory, although Palmer’s scoring form has dried up, while Caicedo has shown a lack of discipline. Arsenal, meanwhile, find themselves in pole position to win their first league title in 22 years thanks to a number of players who are making a case for themselves as world-class footballers, such as Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.
Over in Manchester, meanwhile, City have the best center forward in England in Erling Haaland as well as a number of players who, if they aren’t world-class, are at least on the brink, like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marc Guéhi, Rodri, Antoine Semenyo, Bernardo Silva, Rubén Dias and Joško Gvardiol. As far as United is concerned, however, there is one player who has undoubtedly solidified his status as one of the best players on Earth: Bruno Fernandes.
Born in Maia, Portugal, Fernandes was 18 when he made the move to Italy, bouncing around from various sides like Novara, Udinese, and Sampdoria before eventually returning to Portugal in 2017. Fernandes enjoyed a sensational breakthrough in Lisbon, earning praise from leading Portuguese voices like Vítor Severino and racking up 63 goals and 50 assists in 137 appearances. While he was unable to end Sporting’s long-awaited title drought (which came 1.5 years after his exit), he nevertheless was able to pick up one Taça de Portugal as well as two Taça da Liga titles. By the time that he left, there was little doubt whatsoever that Fernandes was the best player in Liga Portugal, winning the LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019. It’s why, on January 29, 2020, Manchester United signed him for an initial fee of around €55 million plus up to €25 million in bonuses.
It didn’t take long for Fernandes to make that look like an absolute bargain, quickly emerging as the team’s creative talisman and helping them reach the UEFA Europa League semifinal as well as usurp Leicester City for the final Champions League spot. During his first full season at Old Trafford, he racked up an astonishing 28 goals and 17 assists in 58 appearances, with only Harry Kane providing more goal contributions (37) than him (30) in the Premier League, as well as leading the Premier League in big chances created (20) ahead of a certain Kevin De Bruyne (19). While his numbers nosedived to 10 goals and 14 assists in 46 matches during a chaotic 2021/22 season, he was able to bounce back under Erik ten Hag and reestablish himself as one of the league’s top performers. He led all players with 3.3 key passes per 90 and 32 big chances created, as well as scoring 14 goals and 15 assists in 59 appearances – a season which saw him become the team’s full-time captain – followed by another campaign that saw him lead the league in key passes per game (3.3) and score 15 goals and 13 assists in 48 appearances.
Fernandes was one of the sole bright spots of an otherwise dour campaign that saw United finish 15th in the table and go trophyless for the first time in three years, scoring 19 goals and 19 assists in 57 appearances and leading the league in key passes per 90 (2.5) alongside Palmer. He also proved instrumental in United’s run to the UEFA Europa League Final, sitting joint top the Golden Boot race, ranking third for key passes per 90 (3.1) and big chances created (8) and sitting behind only Rayan Cherki for goal contributions (11 vs. 12). But as consistently incredible as Fernandes has been, there’s a reason to believe that his best form is coming at this very moment in time.
Don’t let the numbers fool you: whilst he’s only bagged 6 goals in 24 appearances, Fernandes is taking his game to a new level and proving why he deserves to be considered the best attacking midfielder in the entire continent. Only Haaland (27) has more goal contributions than him and Igor Thiago (18) in the Premier League, whilst no player has created more big chances than him (17). And with 3.4 key passes per match, he’s simply in another league to second-placed Salah (2.4). Fernandes has proven essential in helping United get back onto their feet following the mid-season coaching change of Michael Carrick for Rúben Amorim. Since the end of the October international break, he’s registered 13 assists and 5 goals for club and country. It’s little wonder why the likes of Gabriele Marcotti are declaring him to be one of the best players in world football at the moment: after kicking off the new year with an assist vs. Brighton in their FA Cup defeat, Fernandes proceeded to assist the opening goal in United’s 2-0 win vs. City before giving United the lead and assisting Patrick Dorgu’s goal in a 3-2 win at Arsenal.
After brushing past the two strongest teams in England, Fernandes would set up Casemiro’s opening goal before threading the needle for Benjamin Šeško’s 94th-minute winner against Fulham. He was back at it against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, doubling the scoring late on to secure a 2-0 win, and he is clicking on all cylinders for a United side that is breathing fresh new air under Carrick. United sit fourth in the table, 12 points behind Arsenal, six points behind Manchester City, three points behind Aston Villa, and one point above Chelsea, and they’ll be looking to come away with a fifth-straight victory and end Frank Ilett’s long-awaited search for a haircut as they travel to West Ham on Wednesday.
Category: General Sports
