Piers Morgan has labeled the decision to award Bruno Fernandes the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year as “ridiculous,” arguing it should have gone to Declan Rice.

Fernandes’ Standout Season at Manchester United

The Portuguese midfielder delivered his most creative campaign since joining Manchester United, leading metrics in assists while consistently setting up teammates. Despite the team’s early-season struggles, results improved significantly under Michael Carrick’s guidance, securing third place and Champions League qualification.

Fernandes becomes the first United player to claim the award since Wayne Rooney in 2010, marking the ninth Red Devil recipient alongside legends like Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Declan Rice’s Case for Arsenal

Rice, Arsenal’s talismanic midfielder, justified the club-record fee from 2023 with one of his finest seasons, driving the Gunners’ title charge. Arsenal hold a five-point lead at the Premier League summit, with Rice anchoring the midfield and preventing a late collapse. He has won 35 games this season—more than Fernandes has even played (34).

Rice remains in contention for both Premier League and Champions League honors.

Morgan’s Social Media Outburst

The broadcaster and Arsenal supporter vented on social media, quoting a journalist who deemed Rice far more deserving and declaring: “Exactly. It’s a farce.”

Carrick Praises Fernandes

Michael Carrick hailed his playmaker: “With an award like this that’s judged over such a long period of time, I think whoever gets it is fully deserving of it, and I think Bruno, this season that he’s had, and certainly since I’ve been here, how he’s performed and the impact that he’s had on the group, has been fantastic. So yeah, fully deserved and delighted that he’s got an award like that and he’s one of ours.”