Bruno Fernandes remains Manchester United's best and most important player, and incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino will place the captain at the heart of his plans to revitalise the club's fortunes.
Pochettino faces a lengthy list of problems when he arrives at Carrington next week, with the future of his captain among the most pressing. Successful teams at the highest level typically boast at least one world-class player, and United have that in Fernandes.
Fernandes central to rebuild
The true level of this United squad sits somewhere between the side that won 12 of its last 17 Premier League games in the 2025-26 season and the one that has won one of ten in the current campaign. It is not a squad equipped to challenge for the title any time soon.
Michael Carrick overachieved with the personnel available in the second half of last season and underachieved this season. Evidence suggests the squad is not fit enough, a result of the complacency that comes when signing for such a grand institution.
Recruitment and fitness concerns
Getting the squad physically fit for purpose will be a long haul and cannot be done mid-season. While there will surely be some transfer activity after Christmas, the necessary changes in personnel cannot be completed in one window.
The fundamental flaw in United's recruitment policy has been that they have not pursued the best in class for some time. Signings such as Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba have been good players of decent value, but not amongst the best in class.
Contract situation and leadership
Some believe the captain is part of the problem, but while his form has not reached the heights of last season, Fernandes remains United's best player. He will be the most creative option at Pochettino's disposal, and of all the signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, he has been the best.
Fernandes' contract is up at the end of the season, but United have an option to extend the agreement by a year, an option they will surely trigger before January 1. The 32-year-old has rejected a couple of new contract offers but that is standard negotiating procedure.
Fernandes might wait to see the impact made by the new manager before agreeing an extension, but he will be impressed by Pochettino, almost as certain as Pochettino being impressed by Fernandes. United may look more youthful and vibrant under Pochettino, but Fernandes will still be its leader.
