Fernandes divides United dressing room as teammates accused of dismissing captain's influence

Bruno Fernandes has divided opinion within the Manchester United dressing room, with some teammates reportedly dismissive of the captain’s influence while others regard him as a vital presence, according to the Daily Mail.

The Portuguese midfielder found himself at the centre of a public controversy after criticising interim manager Michael Carrick’s decision not to press man-to-man during United’s Champions League defeat at Como. The fallout was swift: Fernandes was dropped to the bench for the subsequent 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford, where Carrick used all three substitutions without calling upon him.

Insiders have described the 32-year-old as an ‘emotional metronome’ whose mood can shift the atmosphere around the club in either direction. Some players are said to ‘roll their eyes when he’s talking,’ while others have questioned who else in the current United squad would be better suited to wearing the armband.

Fernandes’s close relationship with former manager Ruben Amorim has also reportedly raised suspicions among certain teammates, adding another layer of tension to an already fractured environment at Old Trafford this season.

Carrick and Fernandes have since cleared the air, and the United captain is widely expected to return to the starting line-up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Carrick has confirmed Fernandes will remain part of his plans going forward.

Nevertheless, the episode has intensified scrutiny of Fernandes’s leadership at a time when his on-pitch performances have also dipped below the levels that established him as one of the club’s most influential players. The combination of a form slump and questions over his standing in the dressing room presents a significant challenge for a player who has long been central to United’s identity.