The Manchester United skipper endured a sluggish beginning to the previous campaign, yet that did not prevent him from having a remarkable season overall.
Approximately half of all Fantasy Premier League participants have selected the Portuguese midfielder for their squads heading into the new term.
The 21-year-old shattered the Premier League assist record last season, setting up an extraordinary 21 goals for his colleagues, and with United facing favourable fixtures early on, he has become essential for countless fantasy managers.
However, those expecting the playmaker to explode out of the blocks immediately may find themselves surprised.
Suggestions that the former Sporting CP star might not hit peak performance from the outset could seem almost heretical, yet indicators emerged during the global showpiece that the gruelling season had taken its toll and that he is, after all, only human.
The United talisman fell well short of his own elevated benchmarks and managed just one assist throughout the tournament, coming against Uzbekistan. It was a sublime delivery of the kind he produced so regularly during the previous term, but merely a solitary flash of quality.
Portugal suffered elimination at the hands of eventual champions Spain in the last 16. While losing to the eventual winners is no cause for shame, it represented another underwhelming major tournament for the nation.
Fernandes had been performing at such a high level that it appeared plausible he could single-handedly propel Portugal deep into the competition, yet a dip in his output, combined with Roberto Martinez’s baffling insistence on fielding Cristiano Ronaldo from the start, meant they ultimately disappointed.
Fernandes took to social media to express being sad, frustrated, and disappointed. He spent a three-week period resting with his family in his home country to recover from the mental and physical demands of the campaign, but now he must begin again.
The United man’s second pre-season appearance versus Leeds indicated he had resumed where he had left off. Brought on around the hour mark, he was only denied a spectacular strike by the assistant referee’s flag, though he did unusually blaze a penalty wide during the subsequent shootout.
It seemed certain Fernandes would make amends from the spot when United were awarded a penalty against AC Milan the following weekend. Typically so dependable from 12 yards, on this occasion his effort was kept out by the opposing goalkeeper.
Does looking fatigued at the World Cup and missing two penalties during pre-season constitute evidence that he might experience a sluggish beginning to the new term? It does not make a watertight case, although the argument strengthens when considering how he started the previous season.
Fernandes found the net twice during United’s opening eight matches of 2025/26. The first arrived from the penalty spot against Burnley, while the second was a simple finish versus Chelsea. Those proved his sole goal contributions until after the October international break.
The circumstances matter: the midfielder was operating in a more defensive position under Ruben Amorim’s tactics, prompting justified questions about whether he was performing at his optimal level.
Fernandes responded emphatically for the rest of the term, eclipsing the assist record previously shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, and securing the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year accolade, though he did require several weeks to find his rhythm at the season’s commencement.
Those factors provide sufficient grounds to suggest Fernandes might not make an immediate impact in the opening fixtures. He will probably prove that forecast wrong, particularly given that Hull and Ipswich Town are United’s initial two opponents, but it remains worth bearing in mind.
The Portuguese international has maintained remarkable consistency since arriving from Lisbon six years ago, though it was an forgettable summer for him as he began only one pre-season match due to his delayed return following the World Cup.
Therefore it would not be entirely surprising if Fernandes needed a few weeks to rediscover his best form.