Bruno Equals Record as Manchester United Beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in Casemiro’s Final Home Game

Old Trafford had two stories to tell on Sunday afternoon. One was about a record. The other was a goodbye.

Bruno Fernandes is now level with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, the only players in Premier League history to register 20 assists in a single season. He got there with a drilled low cross in the 76th minute, picked out Bryan Mbeumo perfectly, and the stadium erupted. Not just for the goal. For what it meant.

Henry did it in 2002/03 with Arsenal. De Bruyne matched him in 2019/20 with Manchester City. Now Fernandes, in 2025/26, joins them. The Portuguese captain has one more chance to go past both of them when United travel to Brighton next Sunday. One assist there, and he sets a new Premier League record outright and equals the all-time single-season mark in Europe’s top five leagues, currently held jointly by Thomas Müller and Lionel Messi on 21.

That conversation is for next week. Sunday was still worth celebrating on its own.

How the Game Went

United were sharp from the opening minutes. Luke Shaw struck a low volley into the bottom corner inside five minutes, his first Premier League goal since January 2023, after Forest failed to clear a Fernandes delivery. The fastest home league goal Old Trafford has seen in over two years.

Mbeumo should have made it two before half-time. He rounded goalkeeper Matz Sels on the break and hit the near post. He skied another chance early in the second half. Forest punished the wastefulness.

Elliot Anderson delivered a wicked cross from a corner routine in the 53rd minute, and Morato powered a header past André Onana to level things at 1-1.

United were back in front almost immediately, though the manner of it will irritate Forest for some time. Mbeumo controlled the ball with his arm in the build-up before Matheus Cunha side-footed home. VAR reviewed it. Referee Michael Salisbury allowed the goal to stand. Forest protested, but the decision did not change.

Then came the moment of the afternoon. Fernandes picked up the ball wide, drove a low ball across the box, and Mbeumo finally turned it in. His 11-game goalless run in the league, stretching back to February, was over. Fernandes had his 20th assist. Old Trafford gave him a standing ovation.

Morgan Gibbs-White pulled one back with a superb strike on the turn to make it 3-2, and the closing stages were nervy. Fernandes came close to a 21st assist three times. A Dalot shot hit the post, Dorgu could not beat Sels, and Zirkzee forced a fine stop late on. The record will have to wait one more week.

United finished the game in third place in the Premier League, securing Champions League football for next season.

The Goodbye

Before the match, Casemiro posted a photo with his teammates on social media. The caption read simply: “The last game at Old Trafford.”

Fans flooded the comments. “Please don’t leave yet, warrior.” “He brought leadership when we needed it most.” Old Trafford had already prepared a large banner tribute to the Brazilian, unveiled before kick-off.

When Carrick brought him off in the second half, the stadium rose. Every section. A standing ovation for a player who arrived at this club for £70 million in 2022, had his career written off publicly by Jamie Carragher less than 18 months ago, and then rebuilt everything from scratch under Michael Carrick’s management.

In 159 appearances for United, Casemiro scored 26 goals. At Old Trafford specifically, he made 83 appearances, scored 16 times and contributed nine assists. He won the EFL Cup and the FA Cup during his time at the club. He also formed one of the more unexpected midfield partnerships of the season alongside Kobbie Mainoo, playing together in 13 of United’s 15 league games under Carrick.

His relationship with the fans never fully recovered from the difficult 2024/25 season. There were times it looked like he was finished at this level. But the version of Casemiro that Old Trafford said goodbye to on Sunday was nothing like the player who was being told to retire. He scored nine goals this season in 34 appearances. He played a significant role in United’s Champions League return.

Carrick, in his programme notes, called him “an absolute pleasure to work with.” Casemiro, in an earlier interview, had said that the Manchester United fans were unlike any he had experienced in his career. The way they grow louder after defeats, the way they keep pushing. “I’ve never experienced that,” he said. “For me, that’s incredible.”

He leaves this summer. A move to MLS is reportedly being discussed.

What Comes Next

United’s final game of the season is at Brighton next Sunday. Fernandes needs one more assist to hold the Premier League record outright, and one more after that to match Müller and Messi’s European record. Whether he gets there or not, this has been one of the great individual midfield seasons in Premier League history.

Michael Carrick, meanwhile, is set to be confirmed as United’s permanent manager within the next 24 hours after the club reached an agreement on a two-year deal.

A new era is beginning at Old Trafford. Sunday was the last chapter of the one before it.