The Manchester United great says he had a “lovely chat” with Bruno Fernandes after misquoting the club captain during a debate over his assist record

Roy Keane has moved to calm his public dispute with Bruno Fernandes, revealing that he held a “lovely chat” with the Manchester United captain after a row sparked by comments about the Portuguese midfielder’s record-breaking assist season.

The disagreement began when Keane, speaking on The Overlap, criticised Fernandes over what he believed were comments suggesting the player had chosen to pass rather than shoot in pursuit of the Premier League single-season assist record. Keane argued that such a mindset placed individual achievement ahead of the team.

Fernandes strongly rejected that interpretation. Appearing on The Diary of a CEO, he accused Keane of telling a “lie” and said the former United captain had put words in his mouth. Fernandes insisted his actual comments had been the opposite: he had said there were moments when he should have passed instead of shooting, while stressing that the team’s win mattered more than his personal numbers.

The issue quickly became another flashpoint in the relationship between Manchester United’s former leaders and its current dressing room. Keane, one of the club’s most successful and demanding captains, has often criticised Fernandes’ leadership style, body language and emotional reactions on the pitch. Fernandes, meanwhile, has repeatedly said he accepts criticism but will not accept being misrepresented.

Now, however, both sides appear to have stepped back from the argument. Speaking on Stick to Football, Keane said Fernandes had reached out because he wanted to talk, and that he decided to call him directly.

“There was a reaction after what we said on the podcast a few weeks ago and he reached out to me and wanted a chat,” Keane said. “I called him and we had a lovely chat.”

Keane described the conversation as “nice” and “mature,” adding that they spoke about “a bit of everything.” He also acknowledged that comments made on podcasts and television can sometimes fail to come across as intended, causing unnecessary tension.

The former United midfielder joked that Fernandes “apologised” and that he “forgave him,” before making clear that the conversation had been positive. Keane said he usually prefers to maintain boundaries with current players, but felt it was important to speak with Fernandes given the attention around the story and their shared connection to Manchester United.

The episode underlines the intense scrutiny surrounding Fernandes, who remains one of United’s most influential players and recently surpassed the Premier League single-season assist record previously associated with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. His creative output has strengthened his status as United’s main attacking force, even as questions continue over the club’s consistency and leadership culture.

For Keane, the call may not end his criticism of Fernandes or United more broadly. His reputation as a pundit is built on blunt assessments and uncompromising standards. But the conversation suggests that, at least on this occasion, a private exchange helped cool a public row.

In a club where past and present often collide, the Keane-Fernandes dispute became a reminder of how quickly criticism can turn personal. This time, however, the final word was not another accusation, but a phone call.