Ex-Man Utd man tells Fernandes he’s a ‘childish, petulant brat’ who has no control over team-mates

Former Man Utd defender Paul Parker claims Bruno Fernandes should be stripped of the captaincy and replaced by David de Gea.

The Portugal international has come in for heaps of criticism since with many unimpressed by his attitude during the match.

over his play-acting, dramatic gesticulating to his team-mates, officials and staff, pushing the assistant referee, refusing to track back and other moments in an embarrassing display at Anfield.

And former Man Utd defender Parker insists “childish and petulant” Fernandes is “not a leader” and labelled the 28-year-old a “brat”.

Parker told Apostagolos: “First of all, I was saying from day one that Bruno Fernandes shouldn’t have been the captain. I think he is a player who should be left to his own devices. He is not a leader and this is the reason why it took him that long to get to a big club like Man United.

“People are trying to protect him by saying that he is the best player, he is making assists and so on. But the truth is that he has been childish and petulant with the way he throws himself to the ground and blames the referees. He is a brat.

“Wearing the armband is about getting the other players to calm down. Imagine if he told Casemiro to calm down. He would just shake his head. No one would ever accept anything coming from him because of the way he conducts himself.

“He prefers to walk around and kick people, complain and give up. He gave up against Liverpool, which is miserable. He was not the only player who gave up and it was wrong by all the players. But as a captain he should make sure that it wasn’t happening and he is never doing that.”

And Parker has put forward Man Utd goalkeeper David de Gea as a potential name to be captain when Harry Maguire isn’t on the pitch, although he isn’t keen on the England international either.

Parker added: “David De Gea should be the captain. He is acting like a captain and he is actually trying to calm people down. Just like a captain should do.

“It was wrong that Harry Maguire was given the armband just because of the price tag that was around his neck and it was wrong that Fernandes was given it.

“You should never give a new player the armband and that is why I’m not advocating for Casemiro. Could he be a future captain? Definitely. But it has to be given to someone who has shown loyalty and consistency over a longer period of time.

“And David De Gea has done that. He has always been loyal to Man United and his teammates so it would be fully deserved if he was to be chosen as the new captain.