Bruno Fernandes branded a ‘spoilt brat’ in furious reporter outburst as wait for Premier League record continues

Bruno Fernandes was on the receiving end of criticism by talkSPORT presenters for his on-pitch behaviour against Sunderland.

The Portuguese international captained Manchester United in their 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.

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As the clock ticked down towards 90 minutes, Sunderland’s Nilson Angulo appeared to catch Fernandes on the face with his elbow.

Play continued before referee Stuart Attwell paused it as Fernandes lay down on the turf in apparent pain.

He then angrily protested against the official’s decision to not book Angulo, but his remonstration did not go down well on talkSPORT.

On commentary for the match was Mark Wilson, who said: “Bruno Fernandes is behaving like a spoilt brat this afternoon, he’s gone down clutching his face as though he’s been fouled.

“The referee has blown as Sunderland were breaking forward, then he’s got up, and he’s literally spent the last 90 seconds berating Stuart Attwell, in his face, just shouting at him.

“Granit Xhaka is telling him to calm down, Fernandes is still going on and he’s not going to get booked.

“Micky Gray, I don’t know what Stuart Attwell is doing down there at the minute, what is Bruno Fernandes doing there?”

“This is the side of Bruno Fernandes that we don’t want to see, but we actually do see it every single week,” Gray responded.

“Waving his arms around and complaining to referees.

“He’s tried to play a through ball to Patrick Dorgu and as he’s played the ball, there’s contact, I think it’s Angulo over on that right-hand side.

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“His elbow has kind of grazed across the top of Bruno Fernandes’ face. Nothing in it whatsoever, but he’s laid on the ground.

“He’s waited until Stuart Attwell has actually stopped the game, he blew his whistle. Then he gets back to his feet, complaining to the referee, then there’s five or six United and Sunderland players gathering around the referee.

“It’s a petulant side of Bruno Fernandes that spoils his ability, because he’s got so much talent.

“That is the side that I just hate to see, trying to get somebody sent off when nothing happened.”

Fernandes, who was named the Football Writers’ Association’s (FWA) men’s Footballer of the Year, was not booked for his apparent dissent.

Wait goes on for Bruno

United have already qualified for next season’s Champions League and look set to finish third at the end of the season.

Whilst the squad as a whole will aim to break to 70-point mark with wins in their last two games, Fernandes has his own target to hit.

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The 31-year-old is currently on 19 assists in the Premier League, one away from the all-time record for a single season.

Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne share the title with 20 each, but Fernandes could go one further and take the crown for himself.

United host Nottingham Forest next Saturday and then travel to Brighton on the final day on May 24.

Fernandes therefore has another 180 minutes of football to become the best assister in a single campaign in the English top flight.