Bruno Fernandes has suggested that he regrets his touchline spat with Pep Guardiola during Manchester United’s recent derby win.
Fernandes appeared to ‘shush’ Guardiola towards the end of the 2-0 victory over Manchester City earlier this month.
United’s latest signing, who has had a transformational impact since arriving in January, later said that Guardiola did not deserve his “respect”.
“I have respect for Pep and what he wins and what he did for football, because he changed some mentalities in football,” Fernandes told Sky Sports.
“But I think in that moment, he didn’t respect me, so he didn’t deserve my respect at that moment on the pitch.”
In an interview with Canal 11, Fernandes has now rowed back on those comments and “condemned” himself for his reaction to Guardiola.
“As everything in life, nothing is defined by what a person has had and won,” he said.
“I condemn myself because the best response would have been to remain silent and he would have been left to speak alone.”
Fernandes’s confrontation with Guardiola nevertheless went down well with United fans, who have witnessed an immediate return on the club’s investment.
The 25-year-old cost an initial £47m rising to a potential £72m, and admits that he was taken aback by his own price tag.
“Never were the values so high as now,” he said. “I think it’s an exaggeration.
“My transfer, the figure mentioned, the add-ons that could still be, the value that was paid for me was very high. Players that were bought at that value some time ago were Golden Ball winners.”
