Alan Shearer spoke frankly about Manchester United's playmaker Bruno Fernandes after he made 20 assists, matching the highest assist record in the Premier League.
On 18 May 2026, Alan Shearer, the legendary England striker and Newcastle United icon, commented on Bruno Fernandes, the Manchester United captain, after he achieved 20 assists, equaling the Premier League record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Shearer said, "You have to acknowledge Bruno Fernandes' skill because making 20 assists in the Premier League is no easy feat. But I still think people tend to compare different eras as if they are exactly the same. When Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne had that many assists, the league felt much more intense to me."
"Back then, defenders would aggressively dive in to tackle, midfielders would mark tightly all the time, and creative players barely had a moment to breathe. Now the game is more open, tactics are more varied, and frankly, forwards receive more protection than before. Bruno is an excellent player—no one can deny that—but the environment is different. Honestly, everything at Manchester United runs through him: every attack, every change of play, every set piece. Of course, your assist numbers will soar when the whole system is built around you touching the ball constantly."
"For me, when Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne achieved their numbers, it showed the control and dominance of Arsenal and Manchester City, teams that were formidable and played excellent football every week. But with Bruno, sometimes it looks more chaotic, with more moments of imperfection and less control. So yes, we must definitely respect this achievement, but having the same numbers doesn't always mean the impact is equal across all eras."