Roy Keane has continued his war of words with Bruno Fernandes by posting a cryptic Instagram story that appears to take aim at the Manchester United star. The message read: "Too much attention makes a donkey think he's a lion."
Assist record sparks controversy
Fernandes set a new Premier League record for assists in a single season on the final day, registering his 21st assist to surpass Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry, who had each posted 20. He drew level with them last week during United's 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, but Keane criticised what he saw as an obsession with individual records.
Speaking on the Overlap, Keane said: "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 of the team."
Fernandes hits back
The Portugal international responded on the Diary of a CEO podcast, saying: "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 is everything on record."
Fernandes added: "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."
Attempt to make peace
Fernandes revealed he has contacted former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to ask for Keane's phone number. He said: "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 [but] I don't like when people lie about things that I say."
Despite the feud, Fernandes has enjoyed a stellar season, winning the Football Writers' Association men's Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season awards. He has won only the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in his six years at Manchester United.
