Manchester United legend Roy Keane admitted that he struggled to understand the “banter” of two of his ex-teammates during the tail end of his spell at Old Trafford.
Keane, who opened up on three overrated things in life, etched a legendary playing career under Sir Alex Ferguson after his move from Nottingham Forest in 1993.
The 52-year-old Irishman excelled in the heart of United’s midfield and carried on his success as captain, with Keane inheriting the armband from Eric Cantona in 1997.
During his prolific run at Old Trafford, Keane captained United to their iconic treble win in 1999 and lifted seven Premier League titles and four FA Cups with the club.
The Sky Sports pundit’s iconic spell at United came to an abrupt end in 2005 after his falling out with Ferguson and Keane subsequently moved to Scottish side Celtic.
Keane, who candidly shared his regret about his spell at Celtic, played alongside several legendary figures at the club and was a commanding leader for Ferguson.
The no-nonsense Irish hardman had his difficulties with the changes that happened at United and how the locker room would alter over time with new players.
Keane on the dressing room change at United
Keane, who revealed two elite European clubs wanted to sign him, insisted that the “dynamics” were changing at United before his departure to Celtic in 2005.
Despite being held in high regard by his former club teammates, Keane didn’t always share a close relationship with all of his colleagues on a personal level.
Keane insisted that “things were changing” at United when the likes of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Darren Fletcher and John O’Shea were in the first team.
Speaking to Sky Sports’ The Football Show in 2020, he said: “Your dressing room’s always changing, as most summers you have one or two new faces that come in.
“The dynamic changes as young players come in. To be honest, when I was getting towards the end of my career, I was looking around the dressing room and we had players like Wayne and Rio, Fletcher and O’Shea and things were changing.
“The dynamics were changing, and I always used to roll with it — I didn’t mind because it would give you a new type of energy, especially if they were good players who could help us win trophies.
“But towards the end, I remember thinking that with some of these lads, I didn’t get them and their banter, their humour.
“I was barely having a conversation with any of them, but I was constantly looking at the bigger picture of whether they were going to be good players for Man United. That was the most important thing.”
Keane on two ex-United players’ ‘banter‘
Keane spotlighted that his relationship with fellow United legends Rooney and Ferdinand was different on a personal level due to their “banter.”
The former United captain admitted that he wasn’t sure what Rooney and Ferdinand “stood for sometimes” and they were not for him “personality-wise.”
“When I left the club, there were a lot of players that I didn’t miss one bit,” Keane continued.
“They weren’t for me, and the game was changing. I would look around the dressing room after training, and a lot of them would be on their phones. Maybe I was old school and a bit grumpy, but I didn’t get it.
“Even with Wayne and Rio, I didn’t get their banter and what it stood for sometimes.
“Towards the end at United, with the players that were coming through, I didn’t always get them. I thought personality-wise, they’re not for me.
“I was professional, and they were all very good players, so I was delighted to play with them. But in terms of having banter, a cup of tea or a coffee with them, forget it.”
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