Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes had his Cheshire home burgled on Wednesday evening while traveling in Italy for his club's Champions League fixture against Como. The 32-year-old Portugal midfielder's family was not inside the property when the break-in took place, and the intruders remained inside the premises for less than five minutes before police arrived on the scene.
United are understood to be offering support to Fernandes following the incident, and Cheshire Police have been contacted regarding the break-in. Fernandes, who moved to Old Trafford from Sporting in January 2020, is the latest player targeted while away fulfilling sporting commitments. Manchester City defender Ruben Dias and former partner Maya Jama had their Cheshire residence targeted under comparable circumstances in January during a Champions League match against Galatasaray, while Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, and Riyad Mahrez have also been victims in the same area.
The criminal incident compounded a dismal night in Italy for Manchester United, who suffered a comprehensive 4-1 defeat at the hands of Como. Following the conclusion of the match, Fernandes was vocal in his assessment of the display, criticising the tactics employed by manager Michael Carrick. The aftermath of the performance has sparked reaction across the sport, with Wayne Rooney branding the United squad babies amid concerns from senior figures regarding recent showings.
Despite his public comments questioning Carrick's match tactics, Fernandes will face no internal disciplinary action and will retain his role as Manchester United captain. With Carrick continuing in his managerial position, the team will aim to steady themselves following an unsettling period both on and off the pitch.