Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes said Roy Keane lied about his pursuit of the Premier League single-season assist record.
The dispute highlights a rift between the current club captain and the former captain, reflecting a clash over professional priorities and public perception.
Fernandes reached a new record of 21 assists [1] during Manchester United's 3-0 victory at Brighton on Sunday. This total surpasses the previous single-season record of 20 assists [1], which was shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne [1].
The tension escalated after Keane, now a television pundit, suggested that Fernandes was fixated on the record. Fernandes said Keane twisted his words and falsely portrayed him as obsessed with the milestone.
"I don’t like when people lie about me," Fernandes said. He said, "They put words in my mouth."
Keane did not soften his stance in subsequent remarks. "A donkey thinks he’s a lion," Keane said.
Fernandes said the record was not his primary motivation during the season. He said the public comments made by Keane were a misrepresentation of his goals and mindset.
“"I don’t like when people lie about me."”
This conflict underscores the volatile relationship between modern players and the 'old guard' of pundits. While Fernandes has achieved a historic statistical milestone, the friction with Keane suggests a fundamental disagreement on what defines leadership and success at Manchester United—individual records versus the perceived mentality of a captain.
