Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes may have dropped a major hint about the player he believes could eventually break his Premier League assist record.
Speaking at the PFA Awards, Fernandes made an intriguing prediction when discussing his record-breaking 2025/26 campaign. The Portuguese midfielder said he could see another player beating his assist record and revealed that the player is currently among the top six contenders for the prestigious award.
Although Fernandes did not mention the player by name, many fans immediately pointed towards Manchester City star Rayan Cherki.
Fernandes enjoyed a remarkable season last campaign, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most creative players. His outstanding performances saw him register a record 21 assists, a remarkable achievement that underlined his importance to Manchester United.
However, Fernandes appears to believe that his record may not remain untouched for long.
Rayan Cherki Emerges as the Obvious Candidate
Cherki’s name quickly became the focus of speculation following Fernandes’ comments.
The French attacking midfielder finished behind Fernandes in the assist standings last season and has since continued to develop into one of the Premier League’s most dangerous creative players.
His move to Manchester City has given him an even bigger platform, with Pep Guardiola able to utilise his technical ability and creativity alongside some of the best attacking players in Europe.
Cherki has already made an impressive start to the new campaign. Following his two assists against Bournemouth, he moved to the top of the Premier League assist standings early in the season.
That development has made Fernandes’ prediction particularly interesting.
The Manchester United captain did not simply say that any player could break his record. He specifically pointed towards someone currently inside the top six for the award.
That clue has led many supporters to believe that Cherki was the player Fernandes had in mind.
Fernandes’ Prediction Could Become Reality
Breaking a record as significant as Fernandes’ 21 assists will be no easy task. The Premier League is filled with creative players, and maintaining that level of consistency across an entire season requires exceptional performances, fitness and quality from teammates.
Cherki, however, possesses many of the qualities needed to challenge the record.
The former Lyon star is known for his vision, close control, passing range and ability to create chances from different areas of the pitch. Playing for Manchester City could also provide him with an advantage, given the number of attacking opportunities Guardiola’s side typically create.
His fast start has therefore added another layer of intrigue to Fernandes’ comments.
If Cherki continues producing assists at his current rate, the prediction made at the PFA Awards could eventually look less like a bold statement and more like an accurate forecast.
Fans Will Be Watching Closely
For now, it is impossible to know whether Fernandes was specifically referring to Cherki. The United captain deliberately left the player’s identity open to interpretation.
Nevertheless, the circumstances make Cherki the most obvious candidate.
He was among the players being discussed for the award, finished behind Fernandes in last season’s assist race and has now started the new campaign by leading the assist charts.
Fernandes may have simply been acknowledging the next generation of creative talent in the Premier League.
But if Cherki eventually breaks the 21-assist record, fans will undoubtedly return to that PFA Awards quote.
Bruno Fernandes may have already told everyone who was coming for his record.