News Focus
- Bruno Fernandes rejects claims he prioritised personal records over team success
- United captain accuses Roy Keane of putting false “words in my mouth”
- Portugal midfielder broke the Premier League assist record with 21 passes
- Fernandes seeks Keane’s contact details via Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
- Incident follows earlier tension between Lisandro Martinez and Paul Scholes
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has strongly defended his reputation against stinging criticism from club legend Roy Keane. The Portugal international insists the former skipper told a “lie” about his pursuit of the Premier League assists record.
The disagreement started following United’s 3-2 victory against Nottingham Forest. Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Keane described Fernandes as the centre of a “circus act”. The ex-United and Republic of Ireland midfielder suggested the captain cared more about individual glory than the team’s interests.
Keane claimed Fernandes admitted choosing to pass rather than shoot in order to chase the single-season record. “How can your mindset be about an individual record?” Keane questioned. “He will not win trophies with that attitude.”
However, Fernandes revealed his actual words were the opposite. After the Forest match, he stated: “There were probably moments when I should have passed instead of shot. I am happy for the assist, but happier for the win.” This suggests Keane misheard or misunderstood the interview.
Fernandes equalled the existing record with his 20th assist against Forest. He then surpassed both Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne on the final day at Brighton, finishing with 21 assists. He also scored nine goals and helped United secure third place and a return to the Champions League.
The midfielder recently collected both the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season awards. Despite these honours, he remains upset about Keane’s remarks.
Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Fernandes explained his position clearly. “I do not mind criticism. Everyone has opinions,” he said. “But I do not like when people lie about things I said. Luckily for me, everything is on record.”
The captain revealed he asked former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for Keane’s phone number. He wishes to speak directly with the Irishman to clear the air. “I respect everything Keane did for this club,” Fernandes added. “I just do not like when people invent words I never spoke.”
This is not the first time current United players have argued with former stars. Earlier this season, defender Lisandro Martinez clashed with Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt over comments about his height.
Fernandes maintains he always puts the team first. “I understand this club is about winning trophies. That never leaves my mind,” he stated. “I would prefer Keane praised my achievements sometimes, but I accept criticism when it is fair and true.”