There’s someone better suited to the role of captain than Bruno Fernandes in this team. Bruno can be really selfish at times, and this habit has cost us in crucial matches.” – Amad Diallo has openly expressed his concerns about the current Manchester United captain. The young winger suggested a potential alternative for the armband, sparking a debate over the leadership at Old Trafford.

Amad Diallo has overlooked Bruno Fernandes as the best leader at Manchester United, instead naming Lisandro Martinez as his choice for leadership within the team. Fernandes was appointed United’s captain in July 2023 after Harry Maguire was stripped of the role, and he has held the position since.

However, Fernandes has faced criticism for some of his on-field behavior. Roy Keane, a club legend, recently called out the Portuguese midfielder, saying, “We mention Bruno [Fernandes] for his quality, but he’s got to do more off the pitch; he’s got to be a leader.” Keane made these remarks during a Sky Sports appearance before the Manchester derby.

Fernandes responded to the criticism by scoring the equalizer in United’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad. Despite this, Amad, who scored the decisive goal in the same match, believes Martinez is the true leader at the club.

Speaking to SuperSport (via TBR Football), Amad was asked to build his ideal United player by selecting attributes from different teammates. For leadership, he chose Martinez over Fernandes, saying simply, “Leadership? Licha (Lisandro Martinez).”

Fernandes, however, was acknowledged for his finishing ability, a reflection of his impressive stats. Since joining from Sporting CP nearly five years ago, the 30-year-old has netted 85 goals in 257 appearances for United.

Amad also highlighted himself for left foot ability, an unsurprising choice given his recent form. The Ivorian has been a standout performer over the past few weeks, showcasing his talent during the derby win, where he earned a late penalty and scored the winning goal.

Next up for United is a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Tottenham on Sunday. The Reds, who have defeated Barnsley 7-0 and Leicester 5-2 to reach this stage, will face a tough test against Spurs, who eliminated Manchester City 2-1 in the previous round.