Paul Pogba says Bruno Fernandes would win Ballon d’Or if he played for this club 

History is brewing at Old Trafford with five more matches to go in the campaign. Bruno Fernandes has a chance to break a long standing Premier League record, and former teammate Paul Pogba say the Portuguese midfield has everything needed to win the Ballon d’Or, except one thing.

Assist record under threat

At 31, Fernandes is currently enjoying one of his best campaigns as a Red Devil ever. While United as a club haven’t been in any title race all year, the midfielder has been a central figure in the turn around at the Theater of Dreams. Michael Carrick came in an seemed to reignite the fire not just for Fernandes, but a lot of his teammates too.

Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand podcast, Paul Pogba said ”You put him in City, he’s [in the] Ballon d’Or [top] three, he’s in the Ballon d’Or. Bruno Fernandes, with the stats, the season, the way he plays and everything, but when you don’t win, you don’t think about you, it’s not. It’s like, this is life, this is football.”

Fernandes has 18 Premier League assists this year, having already broken the club record David Beckham set back in 1999/2000 with 15. Now he has his sights set on the Premier League record set by Thierry Henry and tied by Kevin De Bruyne. He is two assists away from tying the record and three away from breaking it.

Right place, wrong time for Bruno?

For a long time Bruno Fernandes has been the engine of a drastically underperforming Manchester United side. Since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson the club has dropped out of the elite category in England and Europe, but Fernandes has always been the one doing whatever may be needed whether it’s scoring goals or assisting goals.

“Football lovers will always respect Bruno Fernandes. That you like his style is a different thing. If you like his style, the way he plays or not, this is different opinions. But football players, they will understand that this guy is a top player,” said Pogba.

He may not be considered one of the greatest players in club history, but that could be a product of the situation around him more than his actual play on the pitch. He has a chance to make Premier League history, became the second fastest to 200 goal contributions in Manchester United history, but has only won an FA Cup and a Carabao Cup with the club. Perhaps in another era, with a more stable situation on the touchline, and some better signings Bruno Fernandes would be in the conversation as one of the best United players ever.

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