Manchester United investigates Bruno Fernandes' hacked social media account
Bruno Fernandes has fallen victim to a social media hack after his X account was breached in the aftermath of United’s FA Cup exit to Brighton.
Image: Facebook
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has become the latest high-profile footballer to fall victim to a social media breach, after his account on X was hacked following the club’s FA Cup exit to Brighton.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening, January 11, when an unauthorised user gained access to Fernandes’s account and posted messages for more than an hour.
Among the posts was one that read: “Let’s get rid of INEOS.”
The account also shared a series of other messages that quickly raised concern among supporters and the club.
“Bruno Fernandes’s X account has been hacked,” Manchester United confirmed in a statement on the same platform.
“Supporters should not engage with any of the posts or direct messages.”
United sources later told international publications that the account has since been secured and that the club has launched a review to determine how the breach occurred.
During the hack, the intruders initially posted content promoting a cryptocurrency before escalating to more controversial statements.
One post claimed that “Man United are in the dumps”, and several messages tagged public figures, including adult film star Bonnie Blue, YouTuber KSI and darts player Luke Littler.
Still posing as Fernandes, the hackers repeated the message “Let’s get rid of Ineos” before sharing a screenshot of United’s 7-0 defeat to Liverpool in 2023. All posts linked to the breach have now been deleted.
A screenshot of the posts before they were deleted.
Image: X
Fernandes, who is 31, is not an active daily user of social media.
He has 4.5 million followers on X, and his last post before the incident came in October 2025, when he marked his 300th appearance for United following a win against Brighton. He has not yet released a personal statement about the hack.
The timing of the breach added to the frustration around Old Trafford. It came just hours after United were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first opportunity, confirming that the club will end the season without silverware.
The club is now expected to review its digital security protocols, with measures likely to be introduced to prevent similar incidents involving players and staff.
Beyond the hack, Fernandes remains one of the most influential figures in the current United squad. He joined the club from Sporting CP in January 2020 and quickly established himself as a key player.
His impact was immediate, bringing creativity, leadership and consistency to a team that had struggled for direction. Since his arrival, he has been among the club’s top contributors in goals and assists across multiple seasons.
Born in Maia, Portugal, Fernandes came through the youth ranks at Boavista before moving to Italy, where he played for Novara, Udinese and Sampdoria.
His development accelerated after returning to Portugal with Sporting, where he became captain and earned recognition as one of the top midfielders in Europe.
That form led to his move to United, where he has since been entrusted with the captain’s armband.