Fans defer over Fernandes’ EPL Award, Legendary status
Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has sparked mixed reactions after winning the 2025/26 English Premier League’s Player of the Season Award.
The Premier League announced Fernandes as the winner on May 23 after he helped Manchester United finish third and qualify for the Champions League.
Fernandes won the award after receiving the highest combined votes from fans, club captains, and football experts.
The Portuguese midfielder finished the season with 21 assists and nine league goals for 30 goal involvements.
He also broke the Premier League single season assist record.
His record-breaking assist came against Brighton on the final day of the season, taking him past the previous record of 20 assists jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Fernandes also created 136 chances in total during the campaign. The tally matched De Bruyne’s 2019/20 mark for second-most chances created in a Premier League season.
Former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil still holds the record with 146 chances created.
Fernandes created 32 big chances and 88 chances from open play during the season.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai ranked next with a total of 78 chances created.
Some Nigerian football fans in Lagos backed Fernandes’ award win, while others preferred Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Kolawole Abass, a Manchester City supporter, said Raya deserved the award more because Arsenal won the league title.
“Without Raya, Arsenal would not have been champions,” Abass said.
Abass, however, praised Fernandes’ quality and consistency throughout the season.
He said Fernandes remained underrated by some rival fans and football pundits.
Liverpool supporter Chijindu Umezeoke supported Fernandes’ award because of his record-breaking campaign.
“Even if you disagree, he is in the history books forever,” Umezeoke said.
Umezeoke, however, said Fernandes still lacked the trophies needed for Premier League legendary status.
Arsenal supporter Oluwaseun Alamu also disagreed with the award decision.
Alamu said Raya and Brentford striker Igor Thiago produced better individual performances during the campaign.
He said Fernandes remained highly rated within football circles in spite of criticism from rival supporters.
Chelsea supporter Olufemi Wilson described Fernandes as exceptional in spite of Manchester United’s struggles earlier in the season.
“In a team devoid of ideas, Bruno Fernandes was there,” Wilson said.
Wilson praised Fernandes for maintaining top performances under former manager Ruben Amorim and current manager Michael Carrick.
He also described Fernandes’ assist record as “a thing of legends.”
Another Arsenal supporter, Henry Arikpo, said Fernandes still needed a league title before attaining legendary status.
“But given his achievements this season, I do not think he is overrated,” Arikpo said.
Manchester United supporter Daniel Bamidele defended Fernandes strongly after the midfielder’s award win.
“He carried a mediocre Manchester United team all season,” Bamidele said.
Bamidele said Fernandes remained underrated because he consistently delivered strong performances in spite of United’s difficult campaigns in recent years.