I’ve long maintained that Bruno Fernandes’ constant availability for selection is one of his greatest assets

The infrequently injured midfielder for Manchester United and Portugal has played more football in the past year than any other elite player.

The Portugal international is said to have played 6,666 minutes between September 15, 2022, and September 15, 2023, according to the world players’ organization Fifpro. According to the data, Fernandes participated in 72 matches for his club and nation during that time.

Fernandes was given the captain’s armband in the summer, although he has struggled with form this season. For the most part, he has given off the impression of being frustrated, but this is understandable given the outcomes this term. In terms of statistics, Fernandes has made nine appearances, tallying two goals and the same number of assists.In order to assess the mental and physical strains that elite players like Fernandes encounter, Fifpro analyzed data from 1,800 players. Additionally, it is advocating for modifications to the football schedule in order to safeguard players, as we already know there are too many games.

However, regulatory organizations like UEFA continue to toy with the notion of holding extra matches every season.

If that occurs, something will have to give (maybe the Carabao Cup).