Roy Keane and Bruno Fernandes Reconcile After Spat

Roy Keane said he and Bruno Fernandes have cleared the air after a recent war of words. The former Manchester United captain described their phone call as a “lovely chat”. The dispute began when Keane criticised Fernandes for chasing the Premier League assist record, claiming the Portugal midfielder admitted to passing instead of shooting. Fernandes rejected the quote on the Diary of a CEO podcast, calling Keane’s statement a lie. The exchange escalated into a public spat between the two Manchester United figures. Fernandes became the first player to reach 21 assists in a top‑flight season, breaking the record on the final day against Brighton after having equalled the previous best in a 3‑2 win over Nottingham Forest. He also scored nine league goals. The new total surpassed the previous record held jointly by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, each of whom had recorded 20 assists in a season. Fernandes’ contributions helped Manchester United finish third in the Premier League. The finish secured Champions League qualification after a two‑year absence. His campaign earned him the Playmaker of the Year award and the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year honour. He is also among the favourites for the PFA Player’s Player of the Year prize. Keane said Fernandes reached out, and they discussed “a bit of everything”, including how Fernandes teed up Patrick Dorgu against Brighton to clinch the assist record. Keane added that he prefers to keep boundaries with players and does not plan regular talks, but appreciated the mature conversation. Both men expressed hope that the dialogue would end the speculation surrounding their disagreement.