Man Utd fans terrified Bruno Fernandes will try new penalty technique after seeing what he posted on Instagram

Manchester United fans are worried that Bruno Fernandes will try a risky new penalty technique after what he posted on Instagram.

There's an art to taking a successful penalty, and it's fair to say that Man United captain Bruno Fernandes has come close to mastering it.

The Portuguese midfielder has scored 31 spot-kicks since joining United in a £47 million deal in January 2020, and has missed on just four occasions.

Part of Fernandes' success is thanks to the unusual technique he adopted a few years ago; the 29-year-old performs an unorthodox 'hop' just before striking the ball, affording him a split-second to see which way the goalkeeper is shifting his weight and place the ball in the opposite direction.

Though Fernandes' technique has proven extremely successful, it's a routine that sometimes leaves supporters' hearts in mouths.

Now, United fans are worried that their star midfielder is going to adopt a new routine which is even riskier.

On Sunday evening the Portugal international shared a video on his Instagram Story of his friend, Hugo Brandao, scoring a penalty during a match with friends.

The Portuguese digital content creator ran up to the ball but surprised the goalkeeper by toe-poking the ball with his standing right foot instead of striking it with his left, as his run-up suggested he would.

Bruno shared the penalty on his Instagram Story. [@brunofernandes8]

It's a penalty trick some fans will recognise, as Thierry Henry used to do it on occasion.

On social media, United fans have voiced their concerns that Fernandes could adopt the method the next time he takes a penalty for United.

"He better not attempt it!," one fan wrote on X, while another commented: "I hope it's not what we’re all thinking right now."

A third fan posted: "If he does that in a match, I don't care if he scores or not. I'm going to go crazy at him."

Another United supporter replied: "Let him do this in training not on the field please."