Author: Amrit Santlani
The Premier League club confirmed this after Maguire was stripped of his captaincy by manager Erik ten Hag. Fernandes had captained United in the matches in which Maguire had been left on the bench because he hadn’t been able to establish himself in the starting line-up.
Fernandes, 28, reportedly turned down offers from Saudi Arabia to stay at Manchester United. After joining the club in 2020, the Portuguese midfielder has become a key figure at Carrington.
To date, Fernandes has played 185 games, scoring 64 goals and 54 assists in all competitions.
According to an ESPN report, Maguire’s time at United could be coming to an end, as the club is willing to listen to offers for the most expensive defender of all time. West Ham reportedly got in touch to ask about the England international in January, while Chelsea were also linked with an unexpected transfer.
“The Portuguese midfielder has worn the United armband on several occasions and Erik ten Hag has confirmed that he will now lead the team on a permanent basis,” said the United statement.
He also said: “As captain, the two-time Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year will continue to drive the highest standards throughout the team as United strive for success in the 2023-24 season and beyond.”
The Portuguese did not feature for Manchester United in their first pre-season game, when Ten Hag’s side beat Lyon 1-0, with Donny van de Beek’s goal making the difference.
United will travel to the United States for the next round of pre-season matches, where they will face Arsenal, Wrexham, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, Lens and Athletic Club.
Ten Hag’s side are scheduled to kick off their Premier League campaign at Old Trafford against Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 15.