ROY KEANE has blasted Jack Grealish for “laughing” in Aston Villa’s return to the Premier League and warned “your career depends on results”.
The fierce Irishman passed his no-holds-barred judgement on Manchester United’s top summer target after Villa played out a 0-0 draw with Sheffield United on Wednesday.
Speaking after the clash, the Old Trafford legend told Football Daily: “They need more intensity. I know it’s the first game in three months and it’s going to be difficult for the players to get their sharpness back.
“I always felt it took me six to eight games to get up to speed so that’s a difficult situation for the players.
“But you have to try and create something and for Villa the other night, I got the impression they felt like a draw wasn’t the end of the world.
“Every time I looked at Grealish he was laughing. I thought ‘listen do you realise what’s at stake here?’
“And because the supporters weren’t there maybe they got sucked into thinking the result doesn’t matter.
“Of course it matters, your career depends on it.”
Some Twitter users seemed to be slightly distracted by the Irishman’s barnet in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown.
The Blades were robbed of a goal and three points against Villa after goal-line technology incredibly malfunctioned.
Amazingly, it was at half-time that referee Michael Oliver’s watch buzzed to alert him to the goal SHOULD have stood in the 0-0 draw.
Hawk-eye later claimed that there was nothing technically wrong with their equipment – which had been tested by officials before the game- but rather an extraordinary set of circumstances.
The Red Devils are long-term admirers of Grealish, 24, and have placed him high on their transfer wish list.
But according to the reports, it is thought the Midlands side will not drop their valuation of their star man, regardless of which division they will be playing in next season.
There have been figures of anything between £50million and £80m suggested for Grealish, but it was initially thought relegation for Villa would lower the club’s asking price.
The midfielder is almost certain to leave should Villa go down as he will surely look to push on in his career rather than spend another year in the Championship with his boyhood side.
But if Smith can keep the team up, Villa’s owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, reckon they will be able to afford to reject any big offers for Grealish.
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has already warned supporters not to expect big transfer fees this summer.
