Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes liked a cryptic Instagram post about loyal individuals getting pushed to the point where they stop caring, following his benching during Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick made the decision to drop Fernandes, who previously questioned the manager's tactics after a 4-1 loss to Como. This marked only the sixth time the 32-year-old Portuguese player has been benched for a Premier League match since joining United in 2020.
Observers interpreted his social media activity as a targeted message. The video in question featured a giant stone figure holding a boulder destined to roll down a hill and flatten a village. When the figure accidentally damages a building while trying to contain the boulder, villagers turn against him, causing him to let go and destroy the settlement.
Text overlaid on the video read, "Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care." The caption started with the line, "The person holding everything together is usually the one nobody thinks to check on."
Fernandes has served as United's main player for most of his six years at the club, scoring 111 goals across 334 games and winning the PFA Player of the Year award last season as the team finished third in the Premier League. Supporters expressed their frustration after the Bournemouth match by cheering Carrick off the field and loudly booing the players. Carrick now faces the threat of dismissal, with Eddie Howe listed among potential replacements.
