Bruno Fernandes has fuelled speculation over his relationship with Manchester United after liking an Instagram post about loyalty shortly after being left out of the starting line-up against Bournemouth.
The Portugal midfielder was an unused substitute as United suffered a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday. Harry Maguire wore the captain’s armband in Fernandes’ absence.
Fernandes’ social media activity drew attention after his official account liked a reel containing the message: “Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care.”
The animation showed a rock-like figure trying to stop a boulder from destroying a town, while being attacked by missiles launched by the people it was attempting to protect. The figure eventually released the boulder, which rolled towards the town before continuing into the sea.
Fernandes and Carrick face scrutiny after United defeat
The Instagram activity came days after Fernandes publicly questioned Manchester United’s tactical approach following a 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como.
Fernandes said the instruction had been “not to press man-to-man” during his post-match media commitments. Manager Michael Carrick subsequently left him out against Bournemouth, describing the decision as being for “pure football reasons”.
Although United struggled during the match, Carrick chose not to bring the midfielder on. Bournemouth’s victory extended United’s winless run in all competitions to eight matches.
The result has increased pressure on Carrick as United endure a difficult start to their Premier League campaign and remain close to the bottom of the table.
Fernandes’ future at Old Trafford is also under scrutiny, with clubs in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in Europe, including Galatasaray, reported to be monitoring the 32-year-old ahead of the January transfer window.
