Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United's captain and midfield maestro, has weighed in on one of football's most hotly debated topics: how assists should really be counted. And with history on the horizon, his timing couldn't be more perfect.

Fernandes is enjoying a sensational 2025/26 season, and he's on the cusp of etching his name into Premier League folklore. His pinpoint pass to Benjamin Sesko in United's 2-1 victory over Brentford took his assist tally to 19—just one shy of the record held by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry (20). With four games still to play, the Portuguese star has every chance to stand alone as the league's undisputed assist king.

Ahead of Sunday's blockbuster clash against Liverpool at Old Trafford, Fernandes sat down with statisticians Opta to share his thoughts on the metric that defines so many creative players. And let's just say, he's got some ideas for a tweak or two.

"I don't know if I should have more assists," Fernandes admitted when asked about the current system. "George [McCaffery, our head of football communications] came to me and said I haven't made 100 assists, but I said, 'Why is it going all around social media that I did 100 assists?' I had to celebrate three times, 100 assists! But I don't even know which ones they took out."

Then came the real kicker: Fernandes shared a perfect example of what he believes should count as an assist. "For instance, I'd give myself an assist for Burnley at home in 2021. Marcus [Rashford] passed to me, and I faked like I was going to take the shot—opened my legs and let the ball go through for Mason Greenwood to score. That's more of an assist for me than some others. If I don't do that dummy, the defender never comes with me and leaves Mason alone."

He added with a grin, "But as you said, it counts as the last one who touched the ball. Maybe I need to start giving the ball a little touch when it goes through my legs!"

Fernandes didn't stop there. He cast doubt on whether assists for own goals should count, and he firmly pushed back against the growing trend of "pre-assists." "I've seen some players talking about that, but come on—let's not start with pre-assists! The assist is already what it is."

Whether or not the record books change, one thing is clear: Bruno Fernandes is redefining what it means to be a creative force in the Premier League. And for fans of the beautiful game—and the gear that makes it happen—that's a story worth following.