And when the final count was complete, the verdict that fans had returned was utterly emphatic, confirming what we had suspected for months: that the Portuguese’s goals, assists, tackles and raging intensity had earned him a record-equalling fourth Player of the Year.
He received the trophy at Old Trafford in the week before the UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao, and now stands proudly alongside David De Gea and his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo as one of only three Reds to win Sir Matt’s award on four separate occasions.
We know intimately what supporters think about Bruno and the contribution he has made to the Manchester United story over the last five-and-a-half seasons.