Gary Neville names only Manchester United player he believes has 'hit a level that has exceeded expectation' in last 10 years at the club

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has named Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes as the only player to have exceeded expectations in the last decade at the club. The 30-year-old playmaker has become one of the most important players at the club since he joined from Sporting CP in 2020.

Ahead of their upcoming derby against Manchester City on Sunday, Fernandes has played 256 games for the Red Devils. He has scored 84 goals and provided 76 assists in that period, playing under six coaches, including interim and caretaker.

Speaking about the Portuguese playmaker's impact at Old Trafford, Gary Neville said on Sky Sports (via Manchester Evening News):

"It's probably wrong to put it on the players over the last few months, because I've said this has been a graveyard for players and managers for the last 10 years.

"You can be enthused about Ugarte, Zirkzee, De Ligt or Di Maria, Alexis Sanchez six [or] seven years ago, all those players who came from the door and you thought; 'They'd do a good job', they've ended up really struggling. Only Bruno in the 10 years has hit a level that has exceeded expectation and Amorim's finding that in his first few weeks."

Manchester United paid an initial fee of €55 million to sign Fernandes from Sporting CP in January 2020, and he has repaid this fee with his performances. However, the Red Devils sit in 13th on the Premier League table, and he will look to lead them to an improved ranking as the season progresses.

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Gary Neville speaks about Manchester United's decision to part ways with Dan Ashworth

Gary Neville has spoken about Manchester United's decision to part ways with sporting director Dan Ashworth, after only just hiring him during the summer transfer window. Ashworth spent 159 days with the Red Devils, notably less than he spent on gardening leave while they tried to sign him from Newcastle United.

Neville said about the decision to let him go on Sky Sports (via Manchester Evening News):

"I was encouraged about Dan Ashworth and others coming into the club because I have been crying out for change for a long time. Obviously it was a massive shock last weekend when that Dan Ashworth news came through, and they say there's a difference of opinion, but where have those difference of opinions come?

"Is it the choice of the manager? Is it recruitment in the summer? Is it the Erik ten Hag decision to stay? That [summer] transfer window, I thought it was quite a smooth window for United."

Manchester United signed players like Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Noussair Mazraoui, and Mattihjs de Ligt in the summer to bolster the squad. They also kept hold of Erik ten Hag, who was eventually sacked after a poor start to the season.