Michael Carrick hints at Bruno Fernandes rotation for Manchester United – how likely is that?
Michael Carrick has hinted that Bruno Fernandes will be rotated this season as Manchester United attempt to challenge on four fronts.
Fernandes, 31, has shown remarkable consistency since joining United in January 2020, missing just six games through injury or illness, and only a handful of times being named on the bench for a Premier League game.
Carrick played Fernandes for 90 minutes in each of his 17 games in charge last season, but said that will change in this campaign, with United back in the Champions League and aiming for deeper runs in the FA Cup and League Cup.
“I’ve said quite a lot about Bruno, he’s been a big part of the team and the club over recent times and had a huge impact, so he’ll continue to do that,” Carrick said.
“In terms of the games and how it comes, hopefully he stays fit and he’s in good shape. But yeah, there’s the element talking about the squad and the depth, and as we go through the season and the waves and the momentum and keeping the boys in good form, but keeping them fresh as well.
“So Bruno’s part of that. He’s a big player for us, he’s obviously our captain, but there’s still elements where we need to look after him.”
Carrick is about to start his first full season as United head coach (Markku Ulander / Lehtikuva / AFP via Getty Images)
Fernandes, who turns 32 in September, has been the subject of interest from Galatasaray this summer, with the Turkish side proposing a contract worth €20million per year. The approach comes a year after Al Hilal made an even more lucrative money-spinning attempt to take Fernandes away from Old Trafford.
Just as 12 months ago, Fernandes wants to stay at Old Trafford and in that context, contract talks have been ongoing. His current terms run to 2027 and include a club option for an additional year — and he is behind Marcus Rashford in terms of earnings in United’s squad.
Fernandes was named FWA Footballer of the Year after breaking the Premier League assists record by setting up 21 goals, and is very rarely unavailable.
He missed three games through a hamstring injury at the end of Ruben Amorim’s tenure last season, having been absent for two games in May 2024 with a knee problem, and one game in March 2023 through illness.
He has played more than 3,000 minutes in each of his six full Premier League campaigns, an average of more than 33 completed 90 minutes every season. But Amorim did say last November he would need to get used to being benched occasionally.
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“I’m not thinking about now the rotation of the players,” Amorim said. “In the future, yes, is something that Bruno needs to understand. If you want to win every game that you are a part, with European games, is going to have to rotate.”
United are now back in the Champions League, and Youri Tielemans, 29, has been signed as a creative player. Mason Mount can operate at No 10, and Shea Lacey, 19, impressed when given minutes in that position during pre-season.
Is it realistic to expect Fernandes to be rotated?
Fernandes has been essential to United for six and a half seasons, since he joined from Sporting CP. He is the attacking fulcrum and will continue to be so. But Carrick is right to think about occasions when he needs a rest. Indeed, a future without Fernandes has to come under consideration too, given his age.
But it would be foolish to discount his enduring quality. His robustness, especially given his all-action style, really is astonishing. And typically, when he is available, he plays.
Only on five occasions in the Premier League has he been fit but benched or left out since joining United.
In May 2025, he was named on the bench for the entirety of United’s 4-3 loss to Brentford, in between the two legs of the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Club. A month earlier, he was sent on as a substitute for the final 30 minutes of the 0-0 draw with Wolves, three days after playing 120 minutes against Lyon in the Europa League.
Ralf Rangnick used him for the final half an hour in a 1-0 home defeat by Wolves in January 2022, four days after he had served a one-match ban.
In May 2021, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent Fernandes on for the final 12 minutes of the 2-1 home defeat to Leicester, five days after United’s Europa League semi-final second leg at Roma, and two days before hosting Liverpool.
Later that month, Solskjaer rested Fernandes entirely for the win at Wolves three days before the Europa League final against Villarreal.