Bruno Fernandes calls out Roy Keane for 'lie' about Premier League assists record bid with Manchester United

Portugal star Fernandes signed off the 2025/26 campaign on a high with United, as his corner which was headed home by Patrick Dorgu in the win over Brighton & Hove Albion ensured he claimed the outright record for most assists in a Premier League season.

A week earlier, Fernandes created a goal for Bryan Mbeumo to join Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne on 20 assists.

Following that 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, Keane was unhappy with Bruno’s post-match comments.

Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Keane said: "After the [Forest] game he got interviewed and he said, the captain of Manchester United said: '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?

"He won't be winning trophies, not with that mindset."

As reported by the BBC, Fernandes' comments were: ”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." 

It would appear Keane may have misinterpreted Bruno’s comments and it was something that had not gone down well with the midfielder.

Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast, he said: "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 [in] 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, everything is 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."

After helping United return to the UEFA Champions League for next term after a third-placed finish in the Premier League, Fernandes can now turn his focus to a FIFA World Cup bid with Portugal.

Before or after this summer’s football spectacular, Fernandes may look to clear the air with Keane.

"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 said.

"I've never ever had something to say, I've never said something wrong. I even asked Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer, former United player and manager] his number to text him to be honest, to have a word with him to say that I don't mind the criticism [but] 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.”

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