Bruno Fernandes’ first outing as Manchester United may have raised some eyebrows but he was the obvious choice to replace Harry Maguire and is revelling in the ‘big honour’ of leading Erik ten Hag’s team

Fernandes has been confirmed as the new captain, replacing Harry Maguire
He raised his eyebrows when finding out he would lead for the first time in 2020
The midfielder has since become the obvious choice and expressed his pride

By Chris Wheeler for MailOnline

Updated: 17:53 BST, 21 July 2023

Bruno Fernandes’ first outing as Manchester United captain may have come as a shock, but the Portugal star says he is honoured to be given the job on a permanent basis.

Fernandes’ raised eyebrows said it all when manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed that he would stand in for skipper Harry Maguire during a press conference video call before United played Paris Saint-Germain in 2020.

The 28-year-old captained United 45 times last season in Maguire’s prolonged absences, and was the obvious choice when Erik ten Hag decided to take the armband off the England defender this summer.

Fernandes said: ‘The first time was in the Champions League against PSG. I was a little bit surprised by Ole, but obviously I said to him at the time it’s just such an honour for me.

‘I still have the armband and the shirt from that game, because I wanted to keep it for me, because this is something that is not for everyone.

Burno Fernandes has expressed his pride at being named Manchester United’s new captain

The midfielder will take over the role on a permanent basis from Harry Magurie for the upcoming season

He captained United on 45 occasions last season with Maguire used sparingly, but is now the permanent skipper

‘And it’s something that has to make you proud, has to make you understand that you are in a place where everyone would like to be: playing for Manchester United. Having the chance to have the armband and having that responsibility is such a big honour.’

Fernandes’ first game as United’s official permanent captain will be Saturday’s opening tour game against Arsenal in New Jersey. He added: ‘Yeah, it will be (special) because officially it will be the first time that I’m a club captain for the club.

‘And obviously I want to keep that one because I want to frame it both together to understand how long the (time between them) was.

‘But it was really good to achieve this now because it means a lot for everything that you have done through your career to understand that you made a big thing to be a club captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world.’