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Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has spoken out in response to the latest criticism directed at him by Roy Keane.

The 31-year-old midfielder reached a significant milestone on Sunday, providing his 20th assist of the ongoing Premier League season as he set up Bryan Mbeumo’s goal in United’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest.

The Portuguese playmaker has now matched the long-standing record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. He will get a chance to surpass the Arsenal and Manchester City icons on the final day of the season when Manchester United face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

With the Red Devils having already confirmed their spot in next season’s Champions League and virtually locked in third place, several teammates appeared eager to help their captain achieve this remarkable feat.

Even Fernandes himself acknowledged that he occasionally opted to pass rather than take a shot, in hopes of increasing his assist count.

These remarks drew an angry reaction from Keane, who accused Fernandes of prioritising his personal achievements over the club’s objectives — something he declared unacceptable for a team leader.

“I was furious about it. The whole discussion was about his assists — players talking about his assists,” said the former Manchester United captain on the latest episode of The Overlap.

“He was interviewed after the match, and while I was watching, everyone — even his teammates — was talking about his assists. The entire post-match conversation revolved around his assists.”

“It’s shocking. How can a footballer go into a game thinking about an individual record, even if it happens?” he added.

After being named the Premier League’s Player of the Year at the Football Writers’ Awards, Fernandes was given the opportunity to respond to his predecessor’s remarks.

The Portuguese international made it clear that he always places the team’s goals ahead of his own, dismissing Keane’s allegations as unfounded and insisting that his mentality should not be questioned.

“I understand that people can have different opinions about me, but they cannot say that I’m not someone who looks to help the team and make the team as successful as possible,” he told Sky Sports News.

“My focus will always be on winning trophies, not chasing individual recognition.”

This is far from the first time Keane has been critical of Fernandes. The Irish pundit has often claimed that the former Sporting CP midfielder lacks the leadership qualities expected of a Manchester United captain, despite his impressive technical ability.

However, Fernandes has consistently chosen to respond calmly and respectfully, steering clear of unnecessary confrontation.