Manchester United have confirmed that captain Bruno Fernandes’s X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked after a series of unusual posts appeared on his official profile, including one calling for the club’s owners, INEOS, to be removed. The club stated on Monday that authorities are investigating the incident and urged fans not to engage with or amplify the unauthorized messages.
The unusual activity began shortly after 11 pm GMT on Sunday, with Fernandes’s account, which has 4.5 million followers, suddenly posting a rapid series of messages. The posts initially focused on cryptocurrency-related content, including claims about launching a new digital token, before shifting to remarks about money, with one now-deleted post reading:“This is why I need to get paid more.”
The tone quickly turned to Manchester United’s on-field struggles, coming just hours after the club’s FA Cup exit to Brighton under interim manager Darren Fletcher. One post described United as being “in the dumps,” while another targeted ownership, calling for INEOS to be removed.
The erratic sequence continued with mentions of adult star Bonnie Blue, the England cricket team, YouTuber KSI, and world darts champion Luke Littler, highlighting the random and uncharacteristic nature of the activity before the posts were removed.
Fernandes is not known to be an active X user, with his public communications largely conducted through controlled channels. His last genuine post on the platform was reportedly several months before the hack. Earlier this week, following Amorim’s departure, Fernandes shared a message of thanks to the former manager on Instagram, reflecting respect despite a challenging season.
The hacking incident sparked reactions from fans and analysts, with some questioning whether it reflects deeper off-field tensions as United navigate managerial changes, inconsistent results, and fan frustration with club leadership. However, there is no verified evidence that Fernandes personally authored any of the controversial posts.
As United regroup after their FA Cup exit and managerial change, the club’s priority remains restoring focus on the field.
