ROY KEANE has revealed he has apologised to Harry Maguire – and admitted he was completely wrong about the Manchester United star.
The 31-year-old defender’s displays were heavily scrutinised during the 2022/23 campaign for the Red Devils and England.
Maguire had the United captaincy taken from him last summer but he still rejected a transfer away from Old Trafford in order to stay and fight for his place.
And, eventually, he fought his way back into Erik ten Hag’s side and produced some impressive performances despite suffering several injury issues which has unfortunately led to him missing out on England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Maguire has been praised for the attitude and fight he has shown to turn around his fortunes at United after often being criticised by pundits and former players.
Now the Red Devils’ ex-skipper Keane has admitted that he took the criticism too far and made it “personal”.
And the 52-year-old fiery Irish icon also revealed on The Overlap: Stick to Football Special, brought to you by Sky Bet, that he apologised straight to the centre-back’s face.
Keane said: “I was harsh on Harry Maguire for footballing reasons and obviously we do a lot of United matches.
“He’s struggled at United, had a tough time with England – but more so club level.
“We’re on about the mental health of players, and I’ve crossed the line with Maguire – I mocked him a little bit and it’s not nice.
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“I’ve played the game, I know how hard it is, but I’m also big enough… I bumped into Harry a few months ago and I apologised to him.
“Sometimes as pundits we get it wrong as well, but there is a point where you go, if it’s personal then you’re crossing the line.”
One of Keane’s most scathing blasts at Maguire came in October 2021 after the ace issued a public apology following a 5-0 loss to Liverpool.
The former midfielder mockingly did an impression of the ace and accused him of lacking professionalism.
He told Sky Sports: “I heard Maguire talking during the week, there’s no emotion behind it. [Luke] Shaw’s fallen back into his old habits from a few years ago.
“Maguire needs to sort his game out. It’s nothing to do with fitness, it’s just a lack of professionalism. There are clearly talented players at the top of the pitch. Midfield and defensively you do worry.”
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Keane also added that Maguire and left-back Shaw were “an absolute disgrace” to United.
Then, this February, he claimed that United were unable to commit to playing an aggressive press due to Maguire preventing them.
He said: “They aren’t pressing up. I don’t want to be just pinning it on Maguire, but there’s always that worry with Maguire coming up and squeezing the pitch, like all the other top teams are doing.
“There’s that worry with him all the time – that’s where there is gaps.
“They are frightened to death to come all the way up because they’re thinking ‘anything over the top, he’d be in trouble.’”
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