It was already a bruising night for Manchester United and their captain. Hours after the club’s FA Cup journey ended with a 2–1 defeat to Brighton, Bruno Fernandes found himself at the centre of an unexpected storm off the pitch, after his official X account was hacked and began posting a series of bizarre and taunting messages.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Fernandes played the full 90 minutes in the third-round loss on Sunday, a result that compounded United’s inconsistent season. Later that night, however, confusion spread among supporters when the Portuguese midfielder’s verified X account — followed by more than 4.5 million users — suddenly sprang to life for the first time in months.
The posts initially appeared to promote cryptocurrency-related content, asking followers for help “making a coin” and expressing mock confusion over crypto platforms. Within minutes, the tone shifted sharply, with messages openly mocking Manchester United’s struggles just hours after their FA Cup exit. One post read: “Man Utd are in the dumps,” while another claimed, “This is why I need to get paid more.”As the situation escalated, the hacker began tagging high-profile accounts, including YouTuber KSI, world darts champion Luke Littler, the England cricket team and even adult star Bonnie Blue. One message bizarrely promoted Macclesfield FC, fresh from their shock FA Cup upset of Crystal Palace.Manchester United were quick to acknowledge the breach. In a statement from the club’s official account, United warned supporters: “Bruno Fernandes’ X account has been hacked. Fans should not interact with any posts or direct messages.”Despite the warning, the individual behind the hack continued to post and reply, even mocking the situation with comments such as: “Aren’t you having fun?” One of the most provocative posts resurfaced an image of Liverpool’s infamous 7–0 win over United at Anfield in March 2023, rubbing salt into fresh wounds.The hacked account also replied sarcastically to teenage United prospect Shea Lacey, who had apologised publicly after being sent off against Brighton.
Fernandes, who rarely uses X, had last posted in October to mark his 300th appearance for the club. By late night, the posts were deleted as club officials worked to regain control.The incident adds Fernandes to a growing list of elite players targeted online, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of high-profile athletes in the digital age.
About the Author
