Roy Keane clashed with two Man Utd stars who he 'didn't get' and wouldn't speak to
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Roy Keane once singled out Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand as the two Manchester United team-mates he “didn’t get” and wouldn’t speak to. The legendary Red Devils captain enjoyed a hugely successful 12-year career with United, winning seven Premier League titles and the Champions League before parting ways in bitter circumstances in 2005. During that time, Keane developed from a talented all-action midfielder to a ferocious leader.
That included bridging the gap between Sir Alex Ferguson’s first league champions and the side that went on to dominate English football during the Scots' latter years in the dugout. But Keane, who ruffled a fair few feathers in the changing room over the years, admitted he failed to get along with some of his younger team-mates who were becoming stars in their own right.
Rooney and Ferdinand were among the leaders of the all-conquering newer crop of players, having joined United in 2004 and 2002, respectively. But midfield general Keane felt he struggled to bond with them because they were from a different generation.
The Irishman recalled an incident where Rooney, recently sacked from his role as Plymouth Argyle head coach, changed the TV channel and put X-Factor on, leading to some furious words from Keane. “We certainly didn’t have an argument, let me tell you,” Keane told Sky Sports’ The Football Show in 2021. “I like my rugby league and yeah, someone did change the channel and I wasn’t happy.
