His mother once cleaned houses for a living. Now this soccer star has one rule for his kids
Fernandes witnessed firsthand the disrespect that is often aimed at domestic workers, so the soccer celebrity is ensuring his kids turn out different
We all have seen how humble a soccer and Manchester United star, Bruno Fernandes, remains despite his status. But that grounded nature comes from a deeply personal space. Long before he captained the Red Devils, a young Fernandes watched his mother work long, grueling hours as a house cleaner. He witnessed firsthand the disrespect that is often aimed at domestic workers. But now that he has everything, he's making sure his kids grow up with the same humbleness he possesses with one hard rule, which he detailed in his recent conversation on @TheDiaryOfACEO on May 26, 2026. It has garnered over 1.2 million views, a clip of which was also shared by Mufc Global (@__mufcglobal) on Instagram.
One simple rule
Fernandes didn't want his kids to be like the people who disrespected his mother. So, he decided to teach them how to stay humble by telling them to respect domestic workers. In fact, this is a non-negotiable for the midfielder. "I don't allow my kids to talk badly to her. I don't allow my kids to say 'grab that' and 'put it in place,'" he said. Fernandes stated that although he didn't want to hire a worker in the first place, since he had to, he made sure that his kids or anyone else didn't disrespect them.
'Do it yourself'
As a matter of fact, he's made it clear to the kids that they should not be telling the worker where to put things or ask for something. If they can do it themselves, it's great; if not, he told the workers to teach them rather than do it for them. This not only helps his kids learn how to be respectful to all people, but also helps them become independent. Additionally, this also speaks volumes about Fernandes' character and his parenting style. And that this isn't the only instance where he's shown his respect for workers.
Fernandes went beyond his words
Back in 2024, when his club, as part of cutting costs, refused to pay for their workers' travel for their FA Cup final clash, he stepped up. According to reports from Goal, Fernandes offered to pay for the travel and hotel expenses of the employees out of his own pocket. Although the club eventually denied his request, it goes to show that he wasn't saying things for the sake of saying them but rather knew how to walk the walk.
Respect starts at home
Experts often say children mirror the behavior they see at home. A 2024 study found that the way adults communicate around chores and household responsibilities influences how children perceive respect, cooperation, and responsibility in the home. And Fernandes' lesson matters even more, considering how domestic workers are treated everywhere. Research published in China Population and Development Studies in 2022 described domestic workers as an “invisible care workforce,” with many lacking labor rights protections and social security, and overtime often going unpaid or underpaid despite the essential role they play in households.
Only some have integrity
People greatly admired Fernandes' kindness and his humble nature. @sijones501 wrote, "My daughter goes to an afterschool club with Bruno’s daughter… he’s there every day to pick her up, doesn’t send an assistant, or his wife; he’s there. And he chats away at pick-up, because he’s just another dad. Not all footballers act this way, but he is truly humble." @Manc0llie wrote, "Superb interview. Bruno is a pure example of how mentality can drive success based on principles from his family and the young man. A credit to himself, his family, and Manchester United."
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