BBC Sport pundit Wayne Rooney has now insisted that one Manchester United player deeply impressed him under Ruben Amorim in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Manchester United kicked off last under Ruben Amorim before the 41-year-old Portuguese coach’s 14-month Old Trafford reign came to an end in January.
Amorim was sacked as Man Utd manager and the former Sporting CP manager was replaced by Darren Fletcher as caretaker boss in the immediate short term.
Michael Carrick would return to the Premier League club back in January and the 44-year-old United legend was appointed Red Devils interim head coach at the time.
What is your message to Bruno Fernandes after he sets a NEW Premier League assist record?🔥
He's now the sole ASSIST KING in league history 🅰️x21
Wayne Rooney on the impact of Bruno Fernandes under Ruben Amorim, despite Man Utd star’s position change
Bruno Fernandes underwent a key position change under former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim during the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
The 31-year-old Man Utd captain was dropped into the two-man midfield of Amorim’s contentious tactical system alongside Brazil midfielder Casemiro.
Bruno Fernandes continued to play a key role for the Red Devils, but the Portuguese midfielder’s attacking influence did wane on the pitch under Amorim’s tactics.
Speaking on his podcast, Wayne Rooney singled out the ‘standards’ that Fernandes was still setting at Man Utd under former Sporting CP and Red Devils boss Amorim.
“Bruno has done that and set the standard,” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“I think some people look at Bruno and see him shouting at his teammates on the pitch or having a go at the referee and stuff like that.
“But that’s just part of his character and I think that’s him keeping the players on their toes.
“Bruno played with Ruben Amorim before, so to go through that change in manager and still hit his targets and hit the standards all season, he would be the first name on this team sheet for me.”
Ryan Giggs says Ruben Amorim deserves more credit for his Manchester United spell – Do you agree?
Wayne Rooney on the influence of Bruno Fernandes at Man Utd during the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford
Fernandes thrived in the second half of the 2025-26 Premier League season after Michael Carrick deployed the Portugal midfielder in an advanced attacking position.
Rooney admitted that the knock-on effect of Fernandes is visible through the former Sporting CP midfielder’s ability to make the players around him look even better on the pitch.
“If you look at Bruno and what he’s doing at Manchester United, he’s the main part of the team and he’s making the players around him better as well,” he explained.
“I think that’s a skill and all part of the process of becoming a top player. He’s been the main part.
“The best players bring players with them; they drag players along with them and make them better.”
Fernandes broke the Premier League assist record for a single season on the final day of the campaign in Man Utd’s 3-0 win over Brighton at the Amex last month.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
