Bruno Fernandes’ first outing as Manchester United captain may have raised some eyebrows but he was the obvious choice to replace Harry Maguire and is revelling in the ‘big honour’ of leading Erik ten Hag’s team

Bruno Fernandes’ first appearance as Manchester United captain may have come as a shock, but the Portuguese star says he is honored to have the permanent job.

Fernandes’ raised eyebrows said enough when manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed he would replace skipper Harry Maguire in a video call at the press conference before United played Paris Saint-Germain in 2020.

The 28-year-old captained United 45 times last season during Maguire’s extended absence, and was the obvious choice when Erik ten Hag decided to take the England defender’s armband this summer.

Fernandes said: ‘The first time was in the Champions League against PSG. I was a little surprised by Ole, but of course I told him at the time it’s such an honor for me.

“I still have the armband and shirt from that game, because I wanted to keep it to myself, because this is something that is not for everyone.

And it’s something that should make you proud, make you understand that you’re in a place that everyone would like to be: playing for Manchester United. To have the opportunity to have the bracelet and to have that responsibility is such an honor.”

Fernandes’ first game as United’s official permanent captain is Saturday’s opening game against Arsenal in New Jersey. He added: ‘Yes, it will be (special) because officially it’s the first time I’m a club captain for the club.

And of course I want to keep that one because I want to frame them both together to understand how long the (time between them) was.

“But it was really good to achieve this now because it means a lot to everything you’ve done throughout your career to understand that you’ve made something important to be the captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world.”