Bruno Fernandes, the captain of Manchester United, has accused Roy Keane of spreading a “falsehood” about his ambition to break the Premier League assists record.
Fernandes set a new assists record in a single season, raising his total to 21 during Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Brighton.
The 31-year-old matched the former record, held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, just a week prior in United’s 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest.
Keane, a legendary figure at United, criticized Fernandes for allegedly putting personal achievements above team success, referring to him as the focus of a “circus act.”
On The Overlap podcast, Keane remarked: “After the [Forest] game, he was interviewed, and the Manchester United captain said: ‘A few times, I probably should have shot but I made those passes.’ Wow. How can a footballer’s mindset going into a match revolve around individual records? He won’t be winning trophies with that kind of team-oriented mentality.”
However, it appears that Keane misjudged Fernandes’ statements. Fernandes clarified his comments after the match, stating: “There were probably moments today when I should have passed instead of shot. I’m very happy for the assist, but more importantly, I’m thrilled about the win and finishing the season positively.”
The Portugal international expressed his concern that Keane misrepresented his words. “As I’ve always said, I don’t mind criticism,” Fernandes explained on The Diary of a CEO podcast. “I’m open to feedback from anyone. However, I take issue when people spread falsehoods about what I said. In this case, Roy Keane basically lied because he either saw a different interview or he can’t accurately quote something I never said, and fortunately for me, everything is recorded.”
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“I accept his criticism and understand he may or may not like me as a player or a person. What I cannot tolerate is when he distorts my statements.”
Fernandes also mentioned reaching out to former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to obtain Keane’s contact information to address the issue directly. “I’ve always respected Roy Keane and what he’s done for the club, as well as the remarks he’s made,” Fernandes stated.
“I dislike it when people misinterpret my words or make false claims about what I’ve said.”
After assisting Patrick Dorgu’s first goal at the Amex Stadium, Fernandes, who was named Premier League player of the season, capped off the scoring following a goal from Bryan Mbeumo.
United concluded the season in third place, securing Champions League qualification with three matches remaining.
Manager Michael Carrick, who recently signed a two-year contract, achieved an impressive 39 points from the final 17 matches after stepping in temporarily following Ruben Amorim’s exit.
“Achieving results in this league is undoubtedly tough, and going on a run is challenging,” Carrick remarked. “Next season signifies a new chapter for us in many ways. The players are returning from the World Cup equipped with trust in one another, and a willingness to give their all for one another, which can be incredibly powerful.”