Bruno Fernandes slammed as 'childish' and unworthy of Manchester United captaincy

Amid a turbulent start to the 2025–26 season, Bruno Fernandes has once again found himself at the center of debate over his suitability as Manchester United captain.

The midfielder has been in the spotlight, especially since United’s shock penalty shootout defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup second round. The result piled further pressure on the club after last season’s 15th-place Premier League finish, the lowest in its history.

Fernandes did deliver United’s first league win of the campaign with a stoppage-time penalty against Burnley, but his contribution has done little to stem criticism. 

Liverpool legend John Aldridge is the latest to question his captaincy credentials, describing the Portuguese international as “childish” and unfit to wear the armband.

“Manchester United would be a better team without Bruno Fernandes as the captain,” Aldridge claimed, via the Mirror. “When you have a club captain with an attitude like Fernandes, especially considering the previous leaders at the club that have been and gone, it’s slanderous to such a great football club.”

“He’s very impetuous and childish. I can’t believe he’s never been sent off. If I was a referee, I’d book him every time he moaned or whinged.”

“The way Fernandes conducts himself epitomizes the club’s performance in the last few years. If United brought in a proper leader to replace him, they’d improve as a team, without a doubt.”

The criticism also comes after Fernandes missed a crucial penalty in a 1-1 draw at Fulham earlier this season, with his temperament and conduct on the pitch fueling doubts over his leadership. 

His tendency to confront officials and the two red cards he collected last season have already raised concerns among pundits, with former United captain Roy Keane previously voicing his disapproval.

Yet Fernandes’s importance to the team cannot be overlooked. Since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, he has been one of the Premier League’s most productive midfielders. 

At the end of last season, he had created more chances than any other player in the league (531) and directly contributed 112 goals (62 goals, 50 assists). His influence even attracted serious interest from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal this summer, with reports of a £100M ($134.4M) bid.

The split in opinion captures the paradox of Fernandes’s role at Old Trafford. While his creativity remains indispensable, his emotional outbursts and disciplinary record cast doubt on whether he has the authority to lead Manchester United forward.

For now, Fernandes retains both the captaincy and the headlines, but the debate over his leadership shows no sign of fading.