Man Utd Icon Urges Bruno Fernandes to Resolve Roy Keane Feud Face-to-Face and Criticizes Captain for Responding to Pundit

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Nicky Butt has urged Bruno Fernandes to sort out his row with Roy Keane face-to-face instead of firing back publicly.

The former Red Devils midfielder slammed modern stars for responding to pundits and insisted players should “ignore it and move on” rather than escalating feuds in the media.

Bruno Fernandes has had to hit back at Roy Keane after he accused him of being selfish Credit: YouTube @TheDiaryOfACEO Roy Keane is known for being brutally honest, and his comments have mostly divided opinion Credit: YouTube @TheOverlap

Fernandes found himself at the centre of a storm after hitting back at criticism from.

But Butt believes the situation has been blown out of proportion and says the pair could easily settle their differences with a simple conversation.

He told Paddy Power : “Whenever Roy says something, it’s going to go to the front pages.

“Bruno’s the Player of the Year, he’s responded and the media have rubbed their hands, ‘this is brilliant, it’s Man United, it’s Roy Keane, Bruno Fernandes, let’s just blow this all up.

“It seems like I think it’s just got all bigged up.

“But I think the crazy thing is, why are players going back at pundits? It’s mad. I just don’t get it. What’s the gain?

“Whether it’s Roy Keane, Alan Shearer, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Paul Scholes, whoever it is, I don’t see why you go back at them.

“Pundits are always going to get asked questions and if you sit there and go, ‘everything’s great’, you just end up falling, you’re never going to be employed again.

“You’ve got to give an opinion, and I think Roy’s very honest, but he is controversial.”

Butt then suggested Fernandes should deal with Keane privately rather than through the media.

He added: “Bruno’s done well, he’s Player of the Year. Someone should tell him to focus on his football, focus on the team, focus on us getting better for next season.

“Don’t react to pundits… don’t react to anybody. On social media, on podcasts, and in the media.

“If I was playing, I just wouldn’t be a***ed with it.

“By the way, it’s different if you see him in the street.

“If you see him in the street, and if he lives locally, Roy lives five minutes away, Bruno lives five minutes away, you see them all the time.

“If you really want to see someone, none of this bulls***, come round to my house- you can walk past him in the village every day.

Nicky Butt was part of the United team that won multiple titles Credit: PA:Press Association Fernandes got 21 assists this season, no other player has ever done that in the Prem Credit: PA

“I’m not saying go physical, go fighting, just say, ‘can I have a good chat with you?

“‘I might have been wrong, but I think I’m right, you might be right.

“But all this calling people out, it never happened before.”

Fernandes’ return this season was ultimately far better received than initially anticipated after another superb campaign from the United captain.

The Portuguese playmaker enjoyed a brilliant 2025/26 season as he helped lead Manchester United back into the Champions League places.

Fernandes also broke the long-standing assist record for a single Premier League season by a player after registering 21 assists, surpassing a mark that had stood for 23 years.

After sealing the record, Fernandes said: “There were probably moments today when I should have passed instead of shot.

“I’m very happy for the assist, but more than that, I’m happy for the win and to finish the season on a high.”

But those comments sparked controversy after Keane interpreted them as Fernandes

Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Keane said: “How can your mindset as 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.”

Despite the noise surrounding the debate, United finished the campaign impressively and secured a return to Europe’s elite competition under Fernandes’ leadership.