Emmanuel Petit slammed Bruno Fernandes' leadership at Manchester United, stating that the Portuguese star's status as club captain illustrates the lack of leadership elsewhere in the squad.
Fernandes took over as captain from Harry Maguire in 2023, and Petit says the 30-year-old's tenure with the armband has been disappointing.
Petit, who as a player won the Premier League, European Championship and World Cup, says Fernandes is a "good player" but lacks the positivity needed to be a captain at such a storied outfit.
"For me, Bruno Fernandes is a player that highlights the problems at Manchester United," Petit told topoffshorebooks.com. "He’s a good player, but most of the time, I don’t like the way he behaves on the pitch. He acts like a diva. He doesn’t help or encourage his teammates when the chips are down.
"When Manchester United are suffering, he’s always crying; always showing his disappointment. That is not what you expect from your captain. You’re expecting more encouragement, leadership. Someone that brings positivity.
"When you've got a guy like Bruno at the top of your club, a player that is supposed to be the leader of the club on and off the pitch, and he acts the way that he does, that is going to have a knock-on effect on players that can’t be good.
"He wouldn’t be my first choice as captain, but that’s also a problem. I’m looking at the squad and I can’t see any leaders."
Petit suggested that manager Erik ten Hag look towards the club's younger stars for a new captain, despite their inexperience.
"United’s best players have been the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobie Mainoo," he said.
"It would be a bold move, but If I’m Ten Hag, maybe I would make a strong decision and appoint the future of the club as my captain. Mainoo is young, but he’s English. He’s establishing himself in the national team. He’s the pride of the fans at Old Trafford.
"Maybe Erik ten Hag needs to make a statement to his underperforming players and fight that says I'm ready to fight with those who are ready to fight with me.
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