Juan Mata has said that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is a “great leader” and that the “culture of the club should be built around him.”
While Fernandes has been in superb form of late — he has scored six goals and registered one assist in his last four matches — his status as club captain at Old Trafford has been frequently questioned since he took over the role from Harry Maguire in July 2023.
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However, on Thursday his former United team mate told the ESPN FC show on ESPN+ that Fernandes’ consistent performances and role-model status behind the scenes at Old Trafford make him an important figure at the club.
Asked whether there is a big personality in the United dressing room that resembles some of those present in the team’s heyday under legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Mata said: “I can tell you that for me, there is a great leader in there right now, which is the captain, Bruno.
“I should tell to all young players to look up to him. I cannot tell you how important he is for the club and not only because of what he’s done in the last games, scoring two goals and winning the game [against Sheffield United], but his consistency within the years that he’s been playing for the club is just incredible.
“He’s a top, top player, but he’s even better as a person. So for me, the culture of the club should be built around him. He’s a great example for all the new generation, the players that are playing now for the team, [Alejandro] Garnacho, [Kobbie] Mainoo, [Rasmus] Højlund, to look up to him the way he trains, the way he behaves.
