Roy Keane has explained the embarrassing reason why he will not be playing in Manchester United legends charity matches anytime soon.
Legends of Manchester United will go to Glasgow on Saturday afternoon to play Celtic legends in a charity game at the storied Celtic Park.
The game, which will be overseen by former player and England star Bryan Robson, will include some of the club’s most prominent players.
Participants include Dimitar Berbatov, Louis Saha, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Mikael Silvestre, and Nani, who is suddenly available after retiring in December.
However, Keane is one player who will not be playing the game or any others in the near future, and he has given a detailed explanation for why.
Keane is almost always brought up when talking about the greatest players or legends to have ever played for United.
The Irishman is not expected to play in Saturday’s game despite having made 479 appearances for the Red Devils and serving as captain from 1997 to 2005 before departing to join Celtic.
However, the explanation isn’t precisely what you may anticipate, as the United icon acknowledged that he isn’t physically fit enough to participate in a charity game.
In 2022, Keane said in an interview with the YouTube channel Off The Ball: “I’m not fit. I’m not at all fit. In fact, I’m quite embarrassed by my level of fitness.
“Just because I’ve not put on loads of weight doesn’t mean to say I’m fit. I wouldn’t really be able to do any running.
“Put it this way, I’ve been invited a number of times over the last few years to play legends games or whatever you want to call it. I’d find it really difficult because I wouldn’t be able to get around. Too many injury problems.
“I try to have a decent diet and I’m obviously weary about putting on too much weight. But I certainly wouldn’t be fit enough to go on any sort of run. I do a small bit of cycling but even that – I’m not exactly Sean Kelly.”
That is not to imply, though, that Keane hasn’t participated in football games since he retired in 2006.
The Irishman played in a tribute match between United and the Republic of Ireland & Celtic Legends in 2018 in memory of Liam Miller, a fellow Corkman and former teammate who tragically died at the age of 36 after a fight with cancer.
Keane was the game’s manager and player, and 42,878 spectators applauded him when he took Ryan Giggs’ position at the hour mark at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
After a 2-2 draw in normal time, the game finally went to penalties, and even though Keane’s attempt was stopped by fellow Irishman David Forde, his United team won.
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