Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Bruno Fernandes shows respect for former Man Utd teammate during Burnley draw

Originally posted on HITC | By Dale O'Donnell | Last updated Jan 8, 2026 12:34 PM ET

Bruno Fernandes was back in action for Manchester United after missing three games, and played a part in keeping former teammate Hannibal Mejbri from getting into trouble on the pitch.

United’s third consecutive draw came against Burnley, finishing 2-2, adding more frustration to their Premier League campaign.

Darren Fletcher is aware that results like these could cost United a spot in Europe. Sitting seventh in the table, there’s growing pressure to turn things around during his time in charge.

Despite the result, there were positives. Bruno Fernandes returned alongside Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo, while Harry Maguire was back on the bench for the first time since November 8th. However, he hasn’t featured since then.

This gives Fletcher or whoever takes over as interim head coach more options in defence and midfield. Only Matthijs de Ligt remains unavailable due to injury.

Bruno Fernandes steps in to keep Hannibal Mejbri away from trouble

Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images

Hannibal Mejbri returned to face his old club for just the second time, adding some bite to Burnley’s midfield but not always making the right decisions on the ball.

His night ended early after picking up a booking, with Scott Parker opting to bring him off before things got out of hand. Later on, Bruno Fernandes stepped in between him and Manuel Ugarte as tensions started to rise.

A video later emerged showing Fernandes pushing Hannibal away from Ugarte after the final whistle. Luke Shaw was also seen nearby, appearing to step in before things could escalate any further.

Fernandes’ main concern seemed to be keeping Ugarte out of trouble, but it was also a reminder that he still respects Hannibal’s edge. The midfielder has always played with a bit of fire in his game and that hasn’t changed since moving on from United.

How Hannibal Mejbri’s time at Manchester United unfolded

Hannibal came through the ranks at United before making the step up to the senior squad.

The Tunisia international spent five years at Old Trafford, where he moved from a promising youngster to a senior professional.

United picked up Hannibal from AS Monaco in 2019 for a reported £9.3 million when he was just 16 years old.

Hannibal made his debut against Wolves on the final day of the 2020/21 season and ended up playing 13 games for United, scoring once during his time there.

Following loan stints at Birmingham City and Sevilla, Hannibal signed with Burnley in 2024 and has since become a regular under Parker.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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