This time last year there was genuine debate about Bruno Fernandes and whether United would be better served accepting a huge offer from Al-Hilal and using the money to reinforce their squad.
United eventually left it to Fernandes to decide and, after some wise words from his wife asking him whether he had achieved all he wanted at Old Trafford, he decided to stay.
The club’s hierarchy should be thanking Mrs Fernandes at the end of this season.
No-one knows what the alternative reality would have been, but it is tough to imagine anyone matching Fernandes’ contribution this season.
Equalling the Premier League’s seasonal assist record clearly took on more significance as the campaign came to its close but, in the aftermath of Michael Carrick’s arrival, when the season was teetering on the edge and could have gone one way or the other, Fernandes came to the fore.
Sixteen goal contributions in 15 games swept United into the Champions League and opens the door to a bright future. Had Fernandes not been there, is it conceivable someone else would have achieved those numbers?
When his FWA Player of the Year award was questioned, the argument was Arsenal are a better team and the winner should be from their squad.
The reality is this season, no individual has done more to lift their team.
Fernandes’ United future is still to be resolved. He has one more game to break the assist record, at Brighton next week.
How fitting it would be, in terms of an end to the season, that staying with the club should be accompanied by Fernandes taking the record on his own.
