Update: |Bruno Fernandes makes it clear what he thinks about player axed by Man United News

As Manchester United’s campaign continues to underwhelm, club captain Bruno Fernandes has sent a curious message to one former Red Devil who was recently axed by the Old Trafford hierarchy

Bruno Fernandes has shown his continued admiration for David de Gea despite the former Manchester United goalkeeper’s harsh removal from the team. De Gea, now 34, joined Fiorentina last summer after spending a year as a free agent.

His lengthy tenure at United abruptly ended in 2023 when Erik ten Hag bought Andre Onana – who has failed to fill De Gea’s shoes. Over the weekend, the latter reminded everyone of what United was missing with an impressive close-range save in Fiorentina’s 2-2 Serie A draw against AC Milan.

Fernandes clearly took note by posting a clip of the save on his Instagram Story and adding a De Gea-themed sticker. The post was uncaptioned, but the message was clear: he still considers his former colleague among the best.

The duo shared the pitch for three-and-a-half seasons at Old Trafford, although De Gea’s prime arguably came before Fernandes arrived in 2020. Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Atletico Madrid in an £18.9 million deal in the summer of 2011.

After initially struggling, Ferguson persisted with De Gea, who quickly became one of the best goalkeepers in world football. He would continue to be relied upon during the reigns of David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Ralf Rangnick.

However, things changed when Ten Hag took over in 2022. Prioritising ball-playing ability and distribution from the back, the Dutchman turned to Onana, someone he trusted from his Ajax days.

It ultimately forced De Gea out of the club after a 12-year reign in Manchester. After a turbulent start, Onana has shown signs that he has found his feet at Old Trafford.

The Cameroonian goalkeeper had a difficult first season, with several notable mistakes leading some supporters to call for the return of De Gea. When Ten Hag was sacked by United in October, De Gea shared a pinched fingers emoji on social media, which many interpreted as a veiled jibe at his ex-boss.

De Gea’s legacy at United is significant, with only six players making more appearances for the club than him. His 545 games are the most by any goalkeeper in the club’s storied history.

Fernandes and De Gea shared a strong bond both on and off the field. In a playful exchange last month, after Fernandes achieved his 50th Premier League assist, De Gea jokingly claimed that the count should be 49.

De Gea responded to a video of an Edinson Cavani goal posted by United’s official account, commenting: “49 assists! This is mine. Ask him,” with a laughing emoji.

The goal in question was Cavani’s stunning chip against Fulham in the 2020/21 season. De Gea’s kick upfield led to the goal, which Fernandes was credited with assisting, although replays cast doubt on whether he actually made contact with the ball. De Gea won one Premier League title, the Europa League, the FA Cup and two League Cups during his time at Old Trafford.