Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes don come out strong to defend im character and achievements, as e accuse Roy Keane of telling lie about im pursuit of Premier League assists record. Fernandes say Keane put untrue words for im mouth for one podcast appearance, and e hope to contact the United legend to set am straight.
Keane don describe Fernandes as dey centre of circus act after United 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest for penultimate weekend of season. E suggest say the Portugal international dey prioritise individual assists glory over team interests for im eagerness to set single-season record. For podcast The Overlap, Keane talk say: ‘After the game e get interview and e talk, the captain of Manchester United say: A few times, I probably should have shot but I made them passes. Wow. How can your mindset of a footballer be going into a match to be about an individual record? E no go win trophies, not with that mindset of the team.’
But Fernandes actual post-match comments na: ‘There were probably moments today when I should have passed instead of shot. I’m very happy for the assist, but more than that, I’m happy for the win and to finish the season on a high.’ So Keane don misinterpret im words, no be true distortion.
Keane even post drawing of braying donkey for Instagram on Monday evening, with caption ‘Too much attention makes a donkey think he’s a lion.’ E no specify say na Fernandes, but people dey speculate say na retaliation.
Fernandes register record-equalling 20th assist of season for United win against Forest, and then take record outright for final day for victory at Brighton. E move past mark wey Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne set.
Im anger over Keane comments clear as e tell podcast The Diary of a CEO: ‘Like I’ve always said, I don’t mind criticism. I’ve always taken criticism from everyone and anyone and I never reply to anything or whatsoever. People have an opinion; they think it’s good, bad, whatever. What I don’t like is when people lie about things and this case that you said about Roy Keane basically what he said is a lie because… either he saw some other interview or he can’t say that I said one thing that I’ve just not said and luckily for me is everything on record. I accept his criticism, I accept that he might like me as a player or not, like me as a person or not. But what I don’t like is that he puts words in my mouth that have not been said. That’s the only thing I don’t like.’
Fernandes no be first player for current squad to voice disapproval towards United great. Earlier this season, Lisandro Martinez involve for spat with Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt after dem make comments about im height and ability to compete with Erling Haaland for Manchester derby.
Fernandes na key figure for United during 2025-26 campaign, help club secure third-place Premier League finish and return to Champions League after two-season absence. As well as lay on 21 goals, e also score nine times for English top flight. Im efforts reward for May when e collect Football Writers’ Association men’s Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season awards.
Fernandes say e don contact former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to ask for Keane phone number so that e fit confront issue. ‘Obviously I think I’ve always showed a lot of respect for Roy Keane and for everything he’s done for the club and for everything he’s always said,’ Fernandes add. ‘I’ve never ever had something to say, I’ve never said something wrong. I even asked Ole his number to text him to be honest, to have a word with him to say that I don’t mind the criticism I don’t like when people lie about things that I say. Because this is like… it goes a little bit over the top of the things that I think are acceptable. I accept criticism. I accept that he can say things that I don’t like and I don’t like to see it. But as I said before, that improves me. What I don’t like is that people make their own words on what I say and it’s not true. Obviously I prefer Roy Keane to give me some praise sometimes because I’ve achieved something that not many players have achieved. I understand that this club is about winning trophies and I have never taken that off my mind.’
Keane don add to im criticism of Fernandes after Forest game by questioning United contentment with narrow victory, add: ‘They’re giving up two goals and everyone’s getting all giddy because he’s equalled the record for assists. It’s mind-boggling. It’s a circus act.’
For Sky Sports News, Danyal Khan deep dive into Fernandes legacy campaign. Fernandes like magician for pitch, produce moments wey usually belong to imagination. A personal favourite na im assist for Benjamin Sesko winner against Fulham. E find imself for right-hand side for 94th minute, turn Calvin Bassey and whip ball first time into box. If e put ball in front of Sesko, Joachim Andersen intercept am. But placement of ball, while Fernandes dey fall as Bassey close am down, na inch-perfect on Sesko back foot, wey allow am touch and finish.
Some fit point to number of set-pieces for Fernandes way to writing new chapter, but I invite anyone wey doubt im quality to re-watch some moments of season. First-time volleyed cross to set up Harry Maguire winner for Anfield – for United first win there for almost decade – or im assist to set up Bryan Mbeumo against Manchester City for Michael Carrick first game in charge, where great Henry dub Fernandes ‘Braino-Fernandes’ na just two examples.
E go be somewhat understandable if Fernandes form don dip halfway through season when club sack Ruben Amorim for January. Fernandes share close relationship with Amorim and im staff, and e undoubtedly feel impact of dem departures. Perhaps timing na everything for that point. Fernandes injure when Amorim leave club and by time e return, United near to appoint Carrick until end of season. Carrick na man wey Fernandes don previously speak highly of and get massive respect for.
Fernandes get seven assists when Amorim depart United, but since Carrick arrival and return to im favoured No 10 position, Fernandes don go from strength to strength. Carrick and Fernandes share certain closeness wey noticeable around training ground and don undoubtedly help settle United talisman after chaotic summer and first half of season. This magician no disappear, but instead up im game when im team need am most, when im team dey perhaps for dem lowest.
But even off pitch, Fernandes just as ferocious with im team-mates. E regularly enjoy playing role of narrator for social card game Werewolf with im team-mates and also dey understood to be highly skilled at game of Uno – no many beat United captain.
More serious note, example Fernandes set off pitch for those around am na something many around Carrington don note. Highly-rated youngsters Jim Thwaites and Dan Armer tell Manchester Evening News say Fernandes go often take dem to one side and offer words of encouragement, while also get laugh with academy players to help dem feel more relaxed around first team.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna na part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer coaching staff when Fernandes arrive from Sporting and e reflect on wetin im most outstanding attribute be. ‘His commitment to his profession is really in the top, top, top tier of any player in the world,’ McKenna say. ‘Cristiano Ronaldo is really well known for how outstanding and professional he is, but Bruno is right along those streets in terms of how he prepares every morning, how he gets ready for training, how he avoids injuries with all the work he does in the gym, how he trains every day, how he recovers from training and makes himself available for every game. You don’t get that level of robustness and play that level of games without being really an outstanding professional so, for me, the work he does behind the scenes, the professionalism he shows behind the scenes to be available for every session and every game is really absolutely world class.’
Carrick don say Fernandes future go dey on agenda for coming months. But after e win Premier League Player of the Season award, Fernandes give biggest hint yet say im future remain for Old Trafford when e address team-mates for video wey post for Manchester United social media: ‘Next season is going to be the biggest challenge for us and I’m very happy that I will be part of that with you guys.’
There be two sides to story about wetin happen last summer. Fernandes feel like club dey more than open to im potential sale at around £100m to Saudi club Al Hilal last June, whereas there be arguments from Carrington say e never be case. In end, Fernandes decide to stay after Amorim make am clear to am say e central to im plans for upcoming season. Having talk to fans around Old Trafford all season, decision to stay after torturous season United endure last season don make affectionate ‘Brunooooo’ chants for home games even louder, sentiment wey former United captain Gary Neville agree with.
Neville tell Sky Sports News: ‘He was always very popular with Manchester United fans but when he turned down leaving last summer – that’s a big moment – it’s easy to jump ship when things aren’t going well for him to stay, he’s gone up in my estimations and United fans more than he did already.’ Despite Fernandes feel like club dey open to sell am last summer, there no fit be clearer message from United hierarchy to am for upcoming transfer window. E no be for sale. Stance wey United hierarchy don make clear to Fernandes throughout season.
With United expect to get substantial window for terms of reinforcements, Fernandes own ambitions fit finally dey match for terms of competing higher up table and for Champions League. Until then, Fernandes future go still dey debated, speculated upon and to degree, uncertain.
For Brighton, Patrick Dorgu goal wey Fernandes set up from corner break record. Dorgu head ball into goal, albeit with contact first off crossbar and then off Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. That sequence prompt some debate about weda goal belong to Dorgu or be own-goal by Verbruggen – wey go mean no classified assist. But Opta, Premier League official data partners, determine ball dey on im way into goal irrespective of weda e hit Verbruggen, so dem award am to Dorgu. Premier League Goal Accreditation Panel, three-person panel for Premier League Match Centre wey determine goalscorers for Premier League where identity of person wey get goal dey open to debate, confirm goal as Dorgu own, meaning Fernandes officially register im 21st assist of season – edging am ahead of totals of 20 wey Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne set.
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