Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has responded to sustained criticism from club legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville, insisting that outside opinions will not define him.
The Portugal midfielder has faced months of scrutiny over his leadership and behaviour on the pitch. Keane, a former United captain, has repeatedly branded Fernandes and his team-mates as “bluffers,” questioning the value of his words. Neville has also accused Fernandes of showing petulance during United’s ongoing struggles.
Speaking to the BBC ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium, Fernandes dismissed the judgments, saying: “Nothing. People have an opinion about me and I can’t change that. It’s the way people want to judge you about what they see on the pitch, some of them what they see on television, some of them what they see on interviews. I can’t change that. They have the freedom to think the way they want about me, as I have the same freedom to think about them. But what I don’t do is I don’t judge people until I know them. They can have an opinion about me and that’s fine. We all have different opinions, that’s why life is so good and so different. Because if we all think the same way it will be so boring.”
Keane first used the “bluffers” remark after United’s 4-1 defeat at Newcastle in April, which marked their 14th league loss of the season, equalling a club record. On Sky Sports, he said: “Bruno does front up but it’s kind of just soundbites now. Real good team-mates put demands on each other. These aren’t team-mates, they are bluffers.” Neville has also questioned whether Fernandes’s confrontations with referees and team-mates set the right example for younger players.
Despite the criticism, Fernandes remains one of United’s most influential figures. He ended last season with 19 goals and 18 assists across all competitions, the highest return in the squad. This season he has already contributed a decisive strike, scoring the winner in the 3-2 victory over Burnley before the international break.
United currently sit on four points from their first three Premier League matches and will face rivals Manchester City at the Etihad in a crucial test. Pep Guardiola’s side, who won on the opening weekend, have since suffered back-to-back league defeats and will be determined to respond in front of their supporters.
