Bruno Fernandes has revealed that former Manchester United icon Sir David Beckham sent him a private message, after he broke the ex-England star's assists record for the club.
No player has made more in one Premier League season for the Reds than Bruno's 16 and he is closing in on the overall record for the division, held jointly by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and former Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne (20).
Hence, there is a realistic chance that Fernandes can set a new benchmark if he maintains his form, with seven matches to go in United's campaign, starting with Monday night's home clash with Leeds United.
Beckham clearly was not bitter about his 1999/2000 mark being overtaken, as he got in contact with the skipper via social media.
When asked about the top-assists list, in an interview to be published in full in United Review, Monday's official matchday programme, our no.8 provided a typically detailed response.
“Seeing your name up there with them is great,”
he admitted. “It’s fantastic. It’s a massive feeling, a very good feeling, but it doesn’t change much in terms of what I want.
”The assists came as they did, and I think the way I created the chances has always been the same, not just this year, but now everyone is more positive, everyone is getting more goals, also from the team.
“So it adds up that if I create more, I will get more assists because they’re scoring the goals.
“At the end of the day, the assist only comes if the finish is good,”
he outlined, as part of the exclusive interview.
“Sometimes, you could do a five-yard pass, just very easy, and someone can put it in the top corner. Sometimes, you need to do a better pass for someone just to have a tap-in.
”I’m very grateful to see my name up there with certain names and obviously you spoke about David Beckham. For me, it’s a huge privilege to be even involved in something with his name.
“I had the opportunity to speak with him. He texted me privately on Instagram and obviously I felt very grateful for that, because he’s someone that probably everyone around my age has seen and looked up to and tried to replicate everything he was doing on the pitch.
“Obviously, the other two names you said have been considered by people as the greatest of the Premier League,”
he stressed.
“Thierry Henry is probably the player that comes up there with Cristiano Ronaldo most of the time, and Kevin, everyone knows what he’s achieved, how much he gave to the Premier League and how good he was.
”I’m very grateful to be up there with these kinds of players.”
MOST ASSISTS IN A PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON
20: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City - 2019/20), Thierry Henry (Arsenal - 2002/03)
19: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal - 2015/16)
18: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City - 2016/17), Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea - 2014/15), Frank Lampard (Chelsea - 2004/05) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool - 2024/25)
17: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal - 2007/08)
Stats courtesy of Opta.
Read the Bruno Fernandes interview in full in United Review, the official matchday programme.