'Puts words in my mouth' - Man United captain Bruno Fernandes hits back at Roy Keane for 'lying' in stinging criticism

Bruno Fernandes has fired back at Roy Keane and revealed he asked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for his number so he could address a recent "lie" from the Manchester United legend.

Fernandes, who was named the Premier League Player of the Season for the first time, has regularly been subjected to criticism from former skipper Keane as part of his hard-hitting punditry.

But the Irishman proceeded to tear into the Portugal international after he levelled the Premier League assist record with a cross for Bryan Mbeumo in the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford last weekend.

While Gary Neville praised Fernandes' achievement on the Overlap, Keane said he was "raging" and left "cringing" at how United's players celebrated his assist for Mbeumo.

He then called out Fernandes' post-match interview and launched a stinging attack on his mentality.

Keane ranted: "He got interviewed after the match – and I was watching him – and everyone was talking about his assists, and even the players were... the game was about his assists.

"After the game, he got interviewed, and the captain of Manchester United said, 'Yeah, a few times I probably should have shot, but I made them passes.'

"Wow. How can a footballer's mindset be going out to a match and be talking about some individual record? If it happens, he's going to get all them stats anyway, but to become the main point about Manchester United’s performance over the weekend. I was cringing with all of them."

Keane also called the conversation surrounding Fernandes' record chase "mind-boggling" and a "circus act".

Bruno Fernandes explains why he didn't like Roy Keane making up 'own words'

However, Fernandes addressed Keane's comments in a sit-down interview with Steven Bartlett on the Diary of a CEO podcast.

Released a day after the final game of the season, Fernandes explained that he took issue with the remarks as they were untrue and he had not said what Keane had quoted - instead he had said the opposite.

The former Sporting CP midfielder denied that he has changed the way he plays in order to chase individual glory with assists and while he is adamant he can accept negative opinions, he will not accept words being put into his mouth.

READ MORE: Kevin De Bruyne believes Premier League denied him assist record that Bruno Fernandes now holds

Fernandes stated: "I've always said I don't mind criticism. I always take criticism from everyone and I never reply to anything. People have an opinion, they think it's good, bad or whatever.

"What I don't like is when people lie about things. 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.

"Luckily for me everything is on record. Imagine if it wasn't, people will think, 'Oh Bruno is the guy always trying to get the assist'.

"But one thing that is consistent is my number of creation - it's always the same. It's not that I have been trying to reach this now, I've been creating chances since I came to the Premier League - probably more than anyone else.

"My way of playing hasn't changed. It's not that this season Roy Keane saw someone creating more because I wanted the assist record, he's seeing the same Bruno that is about risky reward and about creating chances for his teammates.

"If you are scoring goals you will get criticised for not passing the ball and you're shooting. If you're doing assists it's because you're passing too much and you're not shooting to score goals. It's always going to be like that. People will always make the balance the way they want."

Fernandes then went on to reveal that he reached out to his former manager Solskjaer, an ex colleague of Keane's, so that he could speak to the Sky Sports pundit about what he had said.

Fernandes added: "I think I've always showed a lot of respect for Roy Keane and for everything he's done for the club. I even asked Ole for his number to text him to be honest have a word and say, 'I don't mind the criticism, I don't like it when people lie about things that I say'. This goes a little bit over the top of things that I think are acceptable."

"I accept criticism and I accept he can say things that I don't like and I don't like to see it. What I don't like is when people make their own words on what I say and it's not true.

"He can say that I'm not good enough and not a good enough captain for him or not a good enough player the club, it's okay I don't mind.

"Obviously I prefer Roy Keane to give me some praise sometimes because I have achieved something that not many players have achieved.

"I understand that this club is about winning trophies, I never take that off my mind. I always said I wanted to win the Premier League and the Champions League, I never said I wanted to be the best player in the Premier League.

"I accept his criticism, whether he likes me as a player or not, likes me as a person or not. But what I don't like, is that he puts words in my mouth that has not been said."

Fernandes was credited with a record-breaking 21st assist in the 3-0 win over Brighton, though there have been some doubts raised after many claimed Patrick Dorgu's header should go down as an own goal for Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.