After removing Harry Maguire as team captain, Manchester United defender Raphael Varane declared that manager Erik Ten Hag is “not scared” to make significant choices.
In preparation for the upcoming season, Ten Hag has now named Bruno Fernandes as captain.
Since being acquired by United from Leicester City in 2019, Maguire has served as the team’s captain.
However, Ten Hag has made the decision to give Fernandes the leadership role after losing his position last season.
It is Ten Hag’s most significant choice to date, following the disciplinary expulsions of Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo from the team last year.
“He wants a team with character and he’s the leader so he has to show it himself.
“He’s not scared to take these decisions and take that responsibility. That is what we expect from the manager. He did it so I think, with things like this, you show by example.
“He knows exactly what he wants. He’s shown that determination and from the first day we’ve known exactly what we’ve had to do and where he wants to go. It’s all clear for the players and for the team and we have a good connection with the manager,” Varane told ESPN.