Bruno Fernandes has brought character, leadership and drive to Manchester United

Week by week, game by game, Bruno Fernandes’ reputation continues to grow at Manchester United.

It’s little over a month since United ended protracted transfer talks by agreeing to pay Sporting Lisbon up to £68million for the Portugal star, and already it looks like money well spent.

His first seven games produced three goals, two assists, and 15 chances from Fernandes, and the calibre of performance that has breathed life and creativity into this United team.

But greatness is built on more than statistics. It’s about doing it in the big moments in the big games. And after 41 minutes of his first Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Fernandes showed that he possesses that gift as well.

United’s new signing could count himself a little lucky to be standing over the ball in the first place after he was awarded a hotly-disputed free kick. Luke Shaw played a pass into Fernandes on the left and Ilkay Gundogan read the situation.

The City midfielder nipped in ahead of his opponent to nick the ball off his foot and launch a counter-attack. The reaction of Fernandes, twisting and falling to the turf in pain, was enough to convince Mike Dean to call play back but it looked like a harsh decision. City players surrounded the referee and Fernandinho was booked for his protestations.

Pep Guardiola’s side had lost their cool and did they lose their concentration too for a moment? Either way, Fernandes sensed an opportunity and punished them ruthlessly. 

Having fired one free kick into the defensive wall on the other side of the pitch earlier in the first half, he decided to apply a little more guile this time. Fernandes lifted an exquisite pass over the top of City’s defence that caught them napping and gave Anthony Martial the chance to meet it with a first-time volley with his right foot.

It was aimed inside the post but not so close to the upright that Ederson had an excuse for failing to keep it out. The United fans didn’t care as Old Trafford erupted. Another goal to their team, another moment to savour from Fernandes. A closely fought derby needed a piece of skill to separate the two teams, and he had provided it.

Truth is, this wasn’t the best of his eight performances for United. He made a sluggish start and gave the ball away on more than one occasion, notably in the 20th minute when Nemanja Matic gave him an opportunity to break but Fernandes misplaced his pass to Martial and threw his head back in frustration.

But even when he’s not at his best, the 25-year-old is becoming a magnet for this team. The majority of their best moves go through him. That was the case when United established their first foothold deep in City territory in the 16th minute. Fred played the ball to Fernandes whose quick release to Dan James gave him a sight of goal and the chance to test an increasingly erratic Ederson.

But Fernandes has brought so much more to United in a short space of time: character, leadership and drive. When Dean upset United by giving the free kick City’s way after Fernandinho and Martial tussled, led the complaints to the referee. When the outstanding Aaron Wan-Bissaka broke down another City attack and sent James racing down the right, Fernandes was not afraid to demonstrate his anger when the young Wales winger tried to beat Ederson from a difficult angle instead of looking up to spot his late run into the box.

Then, in the dying minutes when he was playing as a makeshift forward with United hanging onto their lead, he was not afraid to engage in a verbal exchange with Guardiola on the touchline. Fernanedes was replaced not long after in the 88th minute, receiving the appreciation of the Old Trafford crowd on his way off.

By then, City midfielder Bernardo Silva had long departed the stage as Bruno outshone Bernardo in the battle of the two Portuguese playmakers.

Silva knows exactly how good Fernandes is. The rest of the Premier League is just starting to get the message.