Bryan Mbeumo is slowly but surely setting himself up in all the right ways as the rightful heir apparent to Bruno Fernandes as Manchester United’s next captain.
The 26-year-old Manchester United summer signing has lived up to the high expectations placed on his shoulders after his stunning 2025 move from Brentford.
10 goals already… how many will Bryan Mbeumo end up with this season?
Bryan Mbeumo has now netted 10 times and registered two assists in 22 matches across all competitions for the Red Devils in his debut season at Old Trafford.
The former Brentford star has established himself as a key United first-team player, both under Ruben Amorim and later under interim head coach Michael Carrick.
Mbeumo, who cost the Red Devils an initial fee of £65m last July, has equally linked up well with Bruno Fernandes since Michael Carrick’s return to Old Trafford.
Man Utd star Bryan Mbeumo earns rightful praise for the major improvement he has made in two areas
Bryan Mbeumo has quickly become a Manchester United fan favourite and the Cameroon international can only improve going forward at Old Trafford.
The Man Utd attacker recently crossed paths with pupils and staff (past and present for the latter) from his France-based former school Jeanne d’Arc La Salle.
During their encounter at the Carrington training complex this month, Mbeumo showed the same incredible warmth to the kids as Bruno Fernandes would.
Bryan Mbeumo was lethal with limited opportunities vs Arsenal, is centre-forward his best position?
Annabella Ware, who is a professeur d’anglais at the Jeanne d’Arc La Salle, also dropped praise on the former Bees ace for his improvement in English as well.
“We had about an hour with Bryan, after watching some academy games, which was very inspiring,” she told Manchester United’s official website.
“They were all sat in the press conference room with him and, little by little, they opened up and asked him lots of different questions.
“I opened it by saying how impressed I was by his English. I teach French kids and said, ‘Bryan, I watch you being interviewed on Match of the Day sometimes and you’re getting on so much better with your English!’
Bryan Mbeumo is climbing out of his shell at Man Utd and setting himself up as Bruno Fernandes’ natural successor
Following his high-profile transfer to Old Trafford last summer, Mbeumo’s immediate demeanour caught the eye of fellow Man Utd teammate Manuel Ugarte in one way.
“Bryan is a little bit quieter,” Manuel Ugarte told Manchester United’s official website last August.
“He also speaks French, I haven’t [spoken] it much with him [yet]. He’s also humble, quiet but very happy.”
What does Bruno Fernandes have to do in 2026 to challenge for the Ballon d’Or?
Win the World Cup? Win the Premier League POTY? Break the assist record?
Mbeumo has spoken English well before his move to the Red Devils, but his confidence is now beginning to shine as a natural-born leader for the team.
The Cameroon and United forward has integrated himself into the culture at Old Trafford and has naturally embraced his duties both on the pitch and off it.
His improvement in English, as noticed by Annabella Ware, shows that he could step up for interviews with the same leadership qualities as Fernandes does right now.
Mbeumo is positioning himself – whether he likes it or not – to be an immediate successor to Fernandes if the Man Utd captain’s armband becomes available.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
