Manchester United legend Paul Scholes says Bruno Fernandes can no longer be trusted as captain and should leave European football for Saudi Arabia after his public criticism of manager Michael Carrick.
Scholes’ blast came after Fernandes questioned Carrick’s tactics following United’s humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como last Wednesday.
Asked if Carrick got it wrong tactically, Fernandes said: “That’s on the manager and staff to see it, not me.”
The comments enraged Scholes, who called them “unforgivable” on his podcast The Good, The Bad & The Football with Nicky Butt.
“What Bruno Fernandes said last week, I think that’s unforgivable,” Scholes said.
“How can Bruno Fernandes be trusted to be captain of any team he ever goes to now? I think he probably needs to get away from European football and just go to Saudi, just get out the way. I don’t think any manager, any member of staff can trust him after that.”
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Carrick immediately dropped his captain for Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. It was the first time in years Fernandes was an unused substitute.
Butt, Scholes’ co-host, added that Fernandes has jeopardised his legacy at Old Trafford.
Fernandes, 32, is in the final year of his contract, with United holding an option to extend by 12 months. The club are reportedly now considering a sale next summer, with Atletico Madrid monitoring his situation and Al-Hilal having offered £700k-per-week last summer.
This is a complete U-turn from Scholes’ position last season, when he insisted United must keep Fernandes and build the team around him.
United are in crisis – 8th in the Premier League and winless in three Champions League games under interim boss Carrick, who replaced Ruben Amorim earlier this month.
