“What I said about him really killed his career. I wish I never said that. I have to call him and apologise to him. He almost left Manchester United because of me…”-Roy Keane admits he contacted Man Utd player to personally apologise for ‘crossing the line’ as a pundit.
Roy Keane has admitted to personally apologizing to a Manchester United player after feeling he went too far with his punditry.
Keane, known for his blunt analysis, has often criticized United during their recent struggles. After their 3-0 loss to Liverpool, he labeled the performance “shocking.”
Among the players frequently criticized by Keane was defender Harry Maguire, who endured a tough spell but managed to bounce back over the past year. Maguire, who was linked with a transfer away from United last summer, fought his way back into the team and performed well when available.
Maguire also received public backing from then-England coach Gareth Southgate after being taunted by Scottish fans during England’s 3-1 win at Hampden Park. Southgate defended him, saying, “I’ve never known a player treated like this,” and called the mockery “a total joke.”
During Maguire’s struggles, Keane’s harsh criticism was widely noted. However, in a June episode of *The Overlap’s Stick to Football*, Keane admitted that he crossed a line and reached out to Maguire to apologize.
“I was critical of Harry Maguire purely for football reasons,” Keane explained. “He had difficulties at United and with England, but more so at the club level. We’re talking about players’ mental health, and I did cross the line with Maguire. I mocked him, which wasn’t fair.”
Keane went on to say that after realizing the impact of his comments, he apologized to Maguire when they met. “As pundits, we sometimes get it wrong. But when it becomes personal, that’s where the line is crossed.”
Recalling his own experiences with media scrutiny, Keane reflected on how criticism affected his family, particularly during the 2002 World Cup and his departure from Manchester United. “It had a massive impact on my parents, making them ill,” he said.
Keane stressed the need for pundits to focus on football analysis without making it personal. “We all have a responsibility. Sticking to football and not crossing the line is what’s important.”
