Bruno Fernandes takes "no pride" in Man Utd role and is happy to score less goals

Bruno Fernandes admits it "doesn't fill me with pride" that he gets lauded whilst playing in a failing Manchester United side - and would much rather play a lesser role to see the team succeed.

The Portuguese playmaker enjoyed another stellar campaign on an individual basis, but did so whilst the Red Devils endured their lowest ever Premier League finish. Their dire campaign was their worst since the mid 1970s and saw them end up in 15th.

Fernandes' solo stats still made for impressive reading and he was often left to carry the struggling outfit. He scored 19 goals in all competitions and was nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer.

The 30-year-old's influence was such that Jeff Stelling remarked that they'd be fighting to remain a top flight team minus him. “Without Bruno Fernandes this season, Manchester United would be battling to stay out of the bottom three,” he said in April.

Despite being hailed for his individual contributions Fernandes takes no solace from those reviews and would rather see his role and importance reduce if it meant the team were on the up.

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He told ESPN Brazil: "I hope you'll hear less about Bruno this year, but a lot more about United. That's my main objective because my name being spoken, let's say vaguely alone, It doesn't fill me with pride or anything.

"United being talked about, being positive, that's the most important thing and that's what I want for this season. If it happens that Bruno has to score fewer goals, provide less assists or do another type of provision of what is necessary for the games, I would be very happy."

There is likely to be less of a reliance on Fernandes to contribute in the final third. The playmaker has been joined by more than £200million worth of talent in Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha and is confident that the right moves are being taken.

He added: "Now people have joined the club, not just the players, but also staff and management, who have a different vision. I hope that all these changes and everything that we have done can bring the club back to the place where it really deserves to be."

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