Bruno Fernandes can fulfil Manchester United ambition after Juan Mata exit

It's been a week of farewells at Manchester United as work gets under way for their summer rebuild under Erik ten Hag.

The club have often been criticised for being too indecisive on the pitch, though it is that very indecision that has led to six out-of-contract stars leaving for free when most could have been sold a long time ago. Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard represented the two biggest missed opportunities, given they had serious interest from elsewhere and still retained a high market value, while the likes of Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic were valued assets with limited long-term suitability.

United will be undergoing extensive change, whether they like it or not, and those still at the club will need to stand up and be counted in the absence of some major dressing room personalities. Not only are they losing talent this summer, but they are losing vastly experienced characters who have added plenty of priceless assets to the squad.

READ MORE: Juan Mata sends classy goodbye message to Manchester United fans

Ten Hag will be looking for new dressing room leaders to emerge this summer, and Bruno Fernandes might well increase his stature further, having gained even more authority since the six senior stars left. David de Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo are now the only two players with comparable leadership in the dressing room — and all three of them could be vying for the captain's armband in the off-season too if Harry Maguire is stripped of the honour.

Fernandes could excel with the extra responsibility bestowed upon him and the extra expectations now that he is unanimously the top midfielder at the club following Pogba's exit.

Furthermore, he could also fulfil his dream of wearing the No.8 squad number which Mata will