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Bruno Fernandes sends crystal clear message to critics over Man Utd captaincy
Sep 13 2025 05:38 · By David McDonnell/Sports Journalist
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Bruno Fernandes leads Manchester United into Sunday's derby insisting he will never change his passionate style – despite the criticism it brings. The United skipper has come under fire for his emotional approach, with many critics claiming he is unfit to wear the captain's armband because of it.
But the 31-year-old playmaker admitted he cannot alter people's opinions of him and said he will not change the way he plays just because of criticism from afar. “People have an opinion about me and I can't change that,” said Fernandes .
“It's the way people want to judge you about what they see on most of the people, what they see on the pitch, some of them, what they see on the television, some of them what they see on interviews.
“You know, I can't change that. They have the freedom to think the way they want about me, as I have the same freedom to think about them. But what I don't do is I don't judge people until I know them. They can. They can have an opinion about me and that's fine.
“We all have opinions, different opinions, that's why life is so good and so different, because if we all think the same way, it will be so boring.”
Asked how his friends and family would describe him, Fernandes told BBC Sport: “Very passionate about everything he does. Just that I and everything I include myself. I just like to go with myself at full, because I don't like to do things by half. Football was the main thing. I always wanted to go full for it.
“In everything, what you see on the pitch is, is what Bruno is like. The passion I put on everything and then obviously much calmer off the pitch.
“I don't have the emotions on the skin as much as I have on the pitch, but I'm still very passionate in everything he does.”
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