Bruno Fernandes appears to have vented his frustration on social media after being dropped for Manchester United's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, joining a long line of players associated with the club who have aired their grievances online.
United are in a poor run of form under Michael Carrick, with just one Premier League win to their name. They were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton and lost 4-1 to Como in Europe. On Sunday, they lost 3-0 to Bournemouth, with captain Fernandes left as an unused substitute after speaking out against his boss in the week, though Carrick insisted the decision was purely sporting.
Fernandes and the cryptic Instagram like
Following the loss, Fernandes's official Instagram account liked a reel with the caption: "Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care." The reel depicts a Sisyphus-like rock monster protecting a city from a giant boulder, only for the citizens to turn on him, at which point he lets the boulder destroy the city.
While Fernandes might simply be a fan of the animation or the backing tune, Macarena, the cryptic activity is being treated as a passive-aggressive response to his benching.
Mainoo's brother and the 'FREE KOBBIE' t-shirt
In December 2025, Kobbie Mainoo's half-brother, Jordan Mainoo-Hames, was photographed in the Old Trafford stands wearing a black t-shirt with "FREE KOBBIE MAINOO" in white writing during a match against Bournemouth. Mainoo had seen his minutes cut under then-manager Ruben Amorim and had requested a loan move that never materialised.
Amorim responded: "It was not Kobbie that wore the t-shirt. He is not going to start because of the t-shirt or go to the bench because of it. He is going to play if he is the right player to play." Amorim was later sacked, and Mainoo returned to first-team contention.
Garnacho and Sancho's public spats
Alejandro Garnacho, now on loan at Aston Villa after being sold to Chelsea for £40m in August 2025, liked two posts criticising Erik ten Hag after being hauled off at half-time in a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth in April 2024. He later unliked the posts and apologised.
Jadon Sancho, who cost United £73m, was excluded from the squad for a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal in September 2023 after Ten Hag said he was not selected due to his training performance. Sancho posted on X: "Please don't believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that was entirely untrue. I have conducted myself in training very well this week... I have been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair!" He refused to apologise, was banned from club facilities, and was loaned to Borussia Dortmund before his contract expired this summer.
Lingard, Martial and Romero's family outbursts
In 2022, Jesse Lingard contradicted interim boss Ralf Rangnick's claim that he had asked for time off to "clear his mind," posting that the club had advised him to take time off for personal reasons. His brother, Louie Scott, later criticised the club for not giving Lingard a farewell, writing on Instagram: "20 years of blood sweat and tears, four domestic trophies, three cup final goals, not even a farewell."
Anthony Martial also clashed with Rangnick in January 2022 after being left out of the squad for a match against Aston Villa. Rangnick said Martial "didn't want to be in the squad," but Martial posted on Instagram: "I will never refuse to play a match for Man United. I've been here for seven years and I never disrespected and will never disrespect the club and the fans." Rangnick later called it a miscommunication.
In 2020, Sergio Romero's wife, Eliana Guercio, criticised the club after a deadline-day loan bid from Everton was reportedly refused. She wrote on Instagram: "Sergio Romero worked hard for his club. Last trophy they won, they lifted it with him. He helped the team reach four finals/semi-finals and then he was left on the bench only to lose them all. It is time for them to return the opportunity and let him go. RESPECT FOR ONCE!" Romero was frozen out until his contract expired in 2021, after which he joined Venezia.
