Harry Styles: The Wanted could be bigger

Harry Styles has joked that The Wanted would be much more popular if it wasn't for One Direction.

The pop star took to his Twitter account to post the friendly jibe about his rival British boy band. Harry and his bandmates scooped three prizes at this year's MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). The Wanted also attended the event and were mistaken for One Direction by a US TV interviewer.

During an interview on Radio One this morning The Wanted were teased about the mistaken identity. The show's host Chris Moyles jokingly stoked the two bands' rivalry by claiming One Direction are better known.

"Chris Moyles' is actually right though... If 1D aren't in the picture, The Wanted would've been WAY more popular! (sic)" Harry tweeted afterwards.

The Wanted's Thomas Parker then made a subtle dig at One Direction's music, appearing to imply the group don't deviate from their signature sound.

"Our new single I Found You is a bit different. We like to mix it up. We try not to be stereotypical," he said.

The Wanted have just returned to the UK from a five week tour around America. The boys expressed their joy at being back home after their gruelling promotional schedule.

"Jetlag has paid off pretty well today. Feel up and ready to go! I'm sure by 3, I'll be on the couch passed out though," Thomas said on Twitter account prior to The Wanted's interview. "Nothing like a sloppy, homemade bacon butty for breakfast...mmm :) (sic)"