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Roy Keane shared a puzzling message on social media just hours after Bruno Fernandes criticised the Manchester United legend during a recent interview.

Fernandes has been Manchester United’s standout performer this season, playing a key role in helping Michael Carrick’s side secure a third-place finish in the Premier League.

Earlier in the campaign, then-manager Ruben Amorim had used Fernandes in a deeper midfield role, but after Carrick replaced the Portuguese coach in January, the 31-year-old was restored to his preferred No. 10 position.

Under Carrick’s management, Fernandes excelled, concluding the 2025/26 Premier League season with a record-breaking 21 assists.

In addition to his assists, the Portuguese midfielder scored nine goals across 35 league matches, earning both the Premier League Player of the Season and the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year awards.

However, Roy Keane, a Manchester United icon, recently voiced his displeasure at the attention given to Fernandes’ assist milestone.

Speaking on The Overlap last week, Keane remarked: “After the [Forest] game he was interviewed and he said, the captain of Manchester United said: ‘A few times, I probably should have shot but I made them passes.’”

Keane continued, “Wow. How can a footballer’s mindset going into a match be focused on an individual record?

“He won’t be winning trophies with that kind of mentality.”

Keane was referring to Fernandes’s post-match comments following Manchester United’s fixture against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on May 17.

According to BBC Sport, Fernandes had actually 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.”

During a detailed conversation on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Fernandes was asked to respond to Keane’s criticism.

The United captain explained: “Like I’ve always said, I don’t mind criticism. I’ve always taken criticism from everyone and anyone and I never reply to anything.

“People have opinions; they think it’s good, bad, whatever.

“What I don’t like is when people lie about things and in this case, what Roy Keane said is a lie because either he saw some other interview or he can’t claim that I said something I never did. Fortunately, everything is recorded.”

He added: “I accept his criticism, I accept that he might like me as a player or not, like me as a person or not.

“But what I don’t appreciate is when he puts words in my mouth that I never said. That’s the only thing I don’t like.”

Fernandes further stated: “I’ve always shown great respect for Roy Keane, for what he’s done for this club, and for everything he’s said over the years.

“I’ve never spoken ill of him. I even asked Ole for his number to message him, honestly, to tell him I don’t mind criticism, but I don’t like when people lie about what I say.

“Because that goes beyond what I consider acceptable.”

He continued: “I can take criticism, I can accept when people say things I don’t like, and that helps me improve. But I don’t like when people twist my words or invent things that aren’t true.

“Of course, I’d prefer Roy Keane to offer some praise once in a while because I’ve accomplished things that few players have achieved.

“But I understand that at this club, it’s all about winning trophies, and I’ve never lost sight of that.”

Shortly after Fernandes shared his thoughts on Keane’s remarks, the Sky Sports pundit posted a cryptic message on social media.

The former Republic of Ireland midfielder shared a sketch of a braying donkey with the caption, “Too much attention makes a donkey think he’s a lion.”