Fernandes likes 'loyalty' post after Carrick drops him for Bournemouth rout

Bruno Fernandes sent a pointed signal on social media after Manchester United’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday, liking an Instagram post that read: “Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care.”

The United captain had been dropped entirely by manager Michael Carrick — the first time in five years Fernandes has been omitted from the starting line-up — after publicly questioning the team’s tactical approach following last week’s Champions League loss to Como. Fernandes was sent out to warm up in the 58th minute at Old Trafford but never entered the pitch, with Carrick using all his substitutions without calling on him.

The tension between the two men had been building since Fernandes’ post-match interview after the Como defeat, in which he said: “It’s a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball.” When pressed on whether Carrick had got his tactics wrong, Fernandes replied: “That’s on the manager and staff to see it, not me.” He was substituted in the 66th minute that evening and shook his head as he left the pitch; Carrick did not acknowledge him when he returned to the bench.

The 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth has intensified pressure on Carrick, with reports suggesting the United board is now seriously considering a managerial change.

Fernandes’ own future at the club remains unresolved. His contract expires at the end of the season, though United hold an option to extend it by a further 12 months. The 32-year-old turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi side Al-Hilal last year, citing family reasons and his belief in the project being built under Rúben Amorim — though Amorim’s role in the current setup was not clarified by the source material.

The Portugal international’s social media activity, whether deliberate or incidental, has sharpened scrutiny on a dressing-room dynamic that already appeared fractured. With his contract situation unresolved and his relationship with Carrick visibly strained, the coming weeks are likely to define whether Fernandes remains a United player beyond the summer.