Roy Keane rages at Man United captain Bruno Fernandes over pursuit of assist record: ‘It’s a circus act’ | OneFootball

Roy Keane has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, labelling his pursuit of the Premier League assist record a "circus act".

The former United midfielder expressed his fury over Fernandes' mindset, suggesting the player is prioritising individual accolades over the team's collective success.

Fernandes equalled the Premier League's single-season assist record of 20, alongside Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, during United's 3-2 victory against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

He now has an opportunity to break the record in United’s final match of the season against Brighton this weekend. However, Keane observed instances during the Forest game where Fernandes appeared to forgo shooting opportunities in favour of attempting a pass, a behaviour he found deeply concerning. Speaking on The Overlap, Keane did not mince words.

"When you’re the captain of a club and you’re supposed to be driving the club forward, do not be getting bogged down by just your role in the team, just assists," he stated.

Roy Keane has hit out at Bruno Fernandes (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Archive)

"What I heard at United at the weekend, honestly, I was raging with it. The whole chat about his assists… Everyone, the players were (talking about it), the game was about his assists."

Keane highlighted Fernandes' post-match interview where the captain admitted: "A few times, I probably should have… shot but I made the passes."

Keane questioned: "Wow. How can your mindset be not to win the match but be about an individual record?"

When Gary Neville pointed out Fernandes' commitment to winning silverware, having reportedly turned down lucrative offers, Keane remained unconvinced.

"He won’t be winning trophies, not with that mindset of the team," Keane asserted. "They’re giving up two goals and everyone’s getting all giddy because he’s equalled the record for assists. It’s mind-boggling. It’s a circus act."

Keane further criticised Fernandes for his visible frustration when teammates failed to convert chances he created. He argued that as captain, Fernandes should be offering encouragement rather than lamenting missed opportunities that could have boosted his personal statistics.

"Bruno gives a pass and they missed it," Keane explained. "What did Bruno do after he missed it? He went on the floor. Why is he falling? (He’s disappointed) for himself.

“His striker is having a difficult spell and missed a couple of chances, and he’s thinking of himself."