Bruno Fernandes is known for showing his emotions on the pitch, something a former top-flight official discovered when trying to connect with the Manchester United midfielder.
The Portuguese playmaker has never been hesitant about expressing his opinions to match officials since arriving in England. Whether arguing with referees, gesticulating wildly, or disputing calls he believes were incorrect, Fernandes makes his feelings clear.
Former Premier League official Graham Scott revealed he attempted to lighten the mood before officiating his first match involving Fernandes in 2022. On a podcast appearance, Scott described how he tried to build rapport with the player in the tunnel.
The encounter occurred immediately following the World Cup in Qatar. Scott explained that referees typically wait in the tunnel during pre-match preparations, standing idle while waiting for television direction to begin.
Scott decided to make an attempt at conversation since he had not previously met Fernandes. His opening line was a light-hearted question about whether World Cup referees had performed better than those in the Premier League. Fernandes reacted strongly, declaring all referees were equally poor and among the worst he had encountered.
Scott then thanked him and suggested Premier League officials could not be so terrible after all. Fernandes responded by saying he would revisit the question later that afternoon. United claimed victory that day, which Scott felt made the encounter more pleasant.
Scott emphasised the importance of establishing human connections with players, noting that everyone involved is simply doing their job and that breaking down formal barriers proves beneficial.
Scott, now 57, concluded his refereeing career last year following ten years in the Premier League, having been an official in the division between 2015 and 2025.
Fernandes moved to United from Sporting in 2020 and has proven transformative for the club. Across six-and-a-half years, he has accumulated more than 100 goals and 100 assists in approximately 300 matches, establishing himself as one of the most influential midfielders of his era.
The 31-year-old secured the Premier League Player of the Season accolade in May after establishing a new record with 21 assists in the league.
He became the first United player to claim the honour since Nemanja Vidic accomplished the feat in 2011. Carrick’s team will commence their 2026/27 Premier League season with an away fixture against newly promoted Hull City.
Fernandes will aim to maintain last season’s form and help United make a positive start to the new campaign.