Manchester United have officially confirmed Portugal star Bruno Fernandes as the club captain to lead the football team. This decision comes shortly after Harry Maguire was stripped of the captaincy by manager Erik ten Hag. Having been with Manchester United for three-and-a-half years, Fernandes is now set to lead the team, and there are expectations that he will don the armband for the upcoming friendly against Arsenal on Saturday.
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During the previous season, the 28-year-old midfielder had the opportunity to captain the Red Devils on certain occasions when Maguire was not in the starting lineup. Now, Fernandes has been given the prestigious captaincy on a permanent basis, as Ten Hag decided to remove it from center-back Maguire, who is 30 years old.
Maguire, who had held the captain’s role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s leadership, expressed deep “disappointment” in losing the captaincy through an emotional statement over the weekend. The defender faced limited playing time last season, featuring in just eight league games. His situation might not improve this season, with even left-back Luke Shaw being preferred in his position.
Reports suggest that Maguire is considering a move away from Old Trafford in search of more playing time. Although United has already rejected a loan offer from West Ham, Chelsea has emerged as a potential destination after losing Wesley Fofana to an ACL injury.
On the other hand, Chelsea might also explore the option of bringing back their former academy star, Marc Guehi, who is now a full England international playing for Crystal Palace. Guehi is a direct rival with Maguire for a spot in the England squad for next year’s Euros.
As Bruno Fernandes takes on the captaincy at Manchester United, the club faces both new opportunities and challenges, while Harry Maguire contemplates his future and potential suitors in the transfer market.
