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Football Insider

Absolutely Unbelievable Footballer: Bruno Fernandes Rewrites History with Aston Villa Masterclass

Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish was left stunned by Bruno Fernandes' masterclass as Manchester United secured a massive 3-1 victory over Aston Villa. Fernandes sets a new club record, surpassing David Beckham's long-standing milestone.

Absolutely Unbelievable Footballer: Bruno Fernandes Rewrites History with Aston Villa Masterclass

Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish was left stunned by Bruno Fernandes’ masterclass as Manchester United secured a massive 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday. The Everton star took to social media to hail the United captain following a performance that rewrote the history books at Old Trafford.It was a truly historic afternoon for Fernandes, who managed to eclipse a long-standing club record previously held by David Beckham. By setting up two goals against Unai Emery's side, the Portuguese star took his seasonal assists tally to 16, surpassing Beckham's mark of 15 in a single Premier League campaign from 1999-00. Fernandes reached this milestone in just 27 appearances, whereas Beckham required 31 games to set his previous high. The United captain is now within touching distance of the all-time Premier League record for a single season, held jointly by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, who both managed 20 assists. With eight games remaining, Fernandes needs five more to stand alone in English top-flight history.Despite the fierce rivalry between the two Manchester clubs, the quality of Fernandes’ delivery and vision has clearly transcended tribalism. Taking to social media, Grealish described the United skipper as an "absolutely unbelievable footballer" in his Instagram Story after witnessing the match-winning performance, with the endorsement from the Toffees star coming at a time when Fernandes is arguably playing the best football of his career.Instagram/jackgrealishInterim manager Michael Carrick was quick to praise his talisman, while also addressing the ongoing speculation regarding the playmaker's future at the club. He stated: "In terms of the club and moving forward, it's difficult for me to get involved in too much of that. Bruno's definitely not someone we'd want to lose, I can say that, but the summer and beyond that, it's difficult for me to kind of go too far with that, but certainly, he's important for us and he's definitely not one we would want to lose. We’re delighted to have him. He’s proven over a period of time how impactful he is in the big moments."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingThe victory provides United with a crucial three-point cushion in third place. After a goalless first half, Casemiro opened the scoring from a Fernandes corner, and although Ross Barkley equalised for Villa, goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko ensured the points stayed in Manchester. With no European fixtures to contend with mid-week, the Red Devils will return to action in the Premier League with a trip to face Bournemouth on Friday night.

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Bruno Fernandes Makes History at Old Trafford

In a historic afternoon at Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes delivered a masterclass performance that left fans and fellow players in awe. The Portuguese star set up two crucial goals against Aston Villa, taking his seasonal assists tally to 16 and eclipsing David Beckham's club record from the 1999-00 season. Fernandes achieved this feat in just 27 appearances, outpacing Beckham's previous record of 15 assists in 31 games.

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Chasing Premier League Assists Record

With his remarkable performance, Fernandes is now within striking distance of the all-time Premier League record for a single season. Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne jointly hold the record with 20 assists each, and Fernandes needs just five more assists in the remaining eight games to break this long-standing milestone.

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Praise from Rival Jack Grealish

Despite the fierce rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City, Jack Grealish, on loan at Everton, couldn't help but praise Bruno Fernandes for his outstanding display. Describing the United captain as an 'absolutely unbelievable footballer,' Grealish acknowledged Fernandes' impact and skill on the pitch.

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Interim Manager's Acknowledgment

Interim manager Michael Carrick was quick to commend Fernandes for his vital role in the team's success. Carrick highlighted the importance of Fernandes and expressed the club's desire to retain him despite ongoing speculation about his future.

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United's Crucial Victory

The victory over Aston Villa provides Manchester United with a crucial three-point cushion in third place in the Premier League table. After a hard-fought match that saw contributions from Fernandes, Casemiro, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko, the Red Devils are set to face Bournemouth in their next league fixture.

Published on Mar 16, 2026