Bruno overtakes Eric in scoring list
It was a special afternoon at Old Trafford for Bruno Fernandes in more ways than one, as our captain celebrated his 250th appearance for Manchester United.
The skipper was presented with a framed shirt commemorating the occasion by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe before kick-off and he remained centre stage even after referee Peter Bankes had got the game under way.
Our no.8 lashed the Reds into an early lead against Leicester, after graft and then guile from Amad had left the Portuguese midfielder with space and time on the corner of the Foxes area.
It was Bruno’s 83rd goal for the club, and one that took him clear of an all-time United great.
Bruno presented with special shirt
Our captain Bruno Fernandes was presented with a special shirt by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, to mark his 250th United game...
Fernandes has now moved past the legendary Eric Cantona, who netted 82 times during 185 outings for us, between 1992 and 1997.
Bruno is now 27th in the all-time rankings, two goals behind another iconic Red, in David Beckham. That gap looked to have closed to one goal when United doubled our lead just before the break.
However, the effort was eventually ruled an own goal, with Victor Kristiansen’s touch adjudged to have been decisive.
Still, Bruno is in red-hot form as we prepare to welcome new head coach Ruben Amorim on Monday, with four goals from four games under Ruud van Nistelrooy.
After moving past Cantona, he paid tribute to the man still worshipped as ‘the King’ by supporters.
“I didn't know about that [overtaking Eric], to be honest,” Bruno told MUTV’s Liam Bradford.
Bruno: I have to continue scoring momentum
Bruno Fernandes discusses his 250th United game, overtaking a Reds great and Ruud’s training sessions…
“Obviously, it's always good to score goals, and it’s always important, but that's such a big name.
“I need to put some respect on that because, good for me, but I want to bring more things, as he did, to this club.”
Fernandes is now the fifth highest non-British goalscorer in our history, with only Anthony Martial (90 goals), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (126), Cristiano Ronaldo (145) and van Nistelrooy (150) ahead of him.