Michael Carrick has refused to rule out stripping Bruno Fernandes of the Manchester United captaincy after the midfielder publicly criticised his tactics following a 4-1 away loss to Como in the Champions League. When asked if taking the armband away from Fernandes was a possibility, Carrick said: “I’m just saying I’ll always – whatever the situation is – do what’s best for the club.”
Carrick, who addressed his players with an emotional speech in his pre-match press conference ahead of the home clash against Bournemouth, is reportedly considering making a statement by removing Fernandes from the captaincy role. Express Sport looks at five players who could take the armband.
Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire is the obvious choice. He was made captain by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the summer of 2020, but Erik ten Hag took the armband off him in the summer of 2023 after he fell out of favour. However, the Englishman has carried himself well under Carrick and been one of the United boss' most important players. He still carries the respect of the team and has never shied away from his duties, even in the face of immense criticism. If Fernandes does lose the captaincy, Maguire will certainly be the bookies' favourite.
Bryan Mbeumo
At first glance, giving Bryan Mbeumo the armband may seem like an out-of-the-box decision, but there are many reasons why Carrick may decide to make him captain. The former Brentford man has arguably been United's best player this season, scoring four Premier League goals in seven appearances and contributing an assist in the Champions League. He has also worn the armband at international level for Cameroon.
Matthijs de Ligt
It feels like a lifetime since a 19-year-old Matthijs de Ligt captained Ajax to the semi-final of the Champions League. He was set to be a dominant force in European football until a deflating spell at Juventus sapped his momentum. Nevertheless, he is still one of United's most experienced and respected players. This can be summed up by the fact United are determined to hold onto him, despite injuries stopping him from playing for the best part of a year. Now he is back playing, Carrick may hand the armband to the Dutchman to see if it can inspire the defender into reaching his old levels.
Youri Tielemans
This would be a difficult one to justify, given the fact he only arrived in the summer and is yet to really stamp his mark on the club. Nevertheless, he remains one of United's most experienced stars and is certainly a player his team-mates turn to for guidance or calm. He has started every Premier League match for the Reds this season, highlighting the fact he is thought of highly by Carrick. It's unlikely he'll be ahead of Maguire, but there's no doubt the Belgian will be in the pecking order.
Diogo Dalot
No player at United has been at the club longer than Diogo Dalot. He arrived at Old Trafford in 2018, when Jose Mourinho was in situ. Aside from a brief loan spell at AC Milan in the 2020-21 campaign, Dalot has been ever-present at United, whether as a starter or from the bench. However, Dalot is a player who divides United fans, with many regularly turning against him on social media, which provokes fans who still believe he is a good player.
