Roy Keane seems to have been not the easiest team-mate to get on with and he has now explained why he never really warmed to Wayne Rooney during their time at Manchester United.The pair played together at United when Rooney arrived at Old Trafford in 2004 from Everton after a transfer deal worth £27m was agreed.The duo were at United for just under a season and a half, as Keane departed the club in November 2005 after an explosive interview with MUTV in which he criticised several of his team-mates as he analysed a defeat to Middlesbrough.Keane is of course a legendary captain in United’s history, while Rooney went on to eventually become the club’s all-time record goalscorer with 253 strikes overall by overtaking Sir Bobby Charlton.
Before Keane departed United, it appears Rooney got on the Irishman’s wrong side and for quite a weird reason – over a TV programme choice.Speaking on Sky Sports’ The Football Show, via the Daily Mirror, Keane revealed how when he wanted to watch rugby league action, someone changed the channel to put the X Factor on, but there no was argument about it.The day after, a comment from Rooney towards Keane did not go down well as he outlined why he did not warm to the former striker, though he admits he was a brilliant player, but accepted they were just different people.
He said: “We certainly didn’t have an argument, let me tell you. I like my rugby league and yeah, someone did change the channel and I wasn’t happy.”But we didn’t have an argument about it. I came down for breakfast the next day and Wayne said ‘Did you find the control?’”So I told him where to go. If that’s an argument, god help us. I certainly didn’t respect Wayne because he stood up to me and wanted to watch the X Factor. I had a lot of respect for Wayne because I thought he was a brilliant player.
“I wouldn’t say I warmed to the guy, I certainly didn’t dislike him. But the lad’s on a different wavelength, different banter and if hiding the control was his type of banter then… not for me.”