Former Celtic midfielder, Roy Keane, was one of the most iconic figures in world football in his day.
A Manchester United and Republic of Ireland legend, Keane signed for Gordon Strachan’s Celtic in December 2005 and made 11 appearances for his boyhood heroes.
During his short spell at the club, Keane won a Scottish Premiership title and a League Cup before deciding to hang up his boots on the 12th of June 2006.
But the end of his career could have been so very different had Keane made a different club switch at that time and it seems like this was a secret even his former Manchester United teammate, Gary Neville, never knew.
Roy Keane rejected Real Madrid for Celtic
It sounds incredible when you read that but Roy Keane admitted he turned down the La Liga giants in favour of a switch to Paradise.
Speaking on The Overlap, Keane left his former Manchester United teammate stunned as he shared how he rejected a move to Real Madrid to sign for Celtic.
Roy Keane: “Do you know, I always had a soft spot for Juventus. And they offered me a deal but I remember the deal at the time, thinking it wasn’t amazing.
“I was looking for an amazing deal. And the club that offered me the most amazing deal ever was Bayern Munich.
“And then when I left United, I went up to Celtic but I could have gone to Real Madrid for a year and a half.
“They offered me a year and a half. And I was like, Celtic was kind of emotional, which is fine. I don’t mind making them kinds of decisions.
“And I was 34, I just thought, would I go to Madrid and have an impact?”
Gary Neville looked and sounded stunned as he said, “I didn’t know you turned down Real Madrid.”
Keane: “I know.”
The legendary Irishman’s Celtic career didn’t get off to the best of starts when he succumbed to a shock 2-1 Scottish Cup defeat to Clyde in January 2006.
Keane’s best moment in the green and white hoops was when he produced a midfield masterclass for Celtic in a 1-0 away win over Rangers at Ibrox.
The former Manchester United man also managed to bag a goal in the Hoops after scoring the opener in a 2-1 against Falkirk at Celtic Park.
Now retired, Keane enjoys life as a pundit but he always talks about Celtic passionately as he looks back on his bride time in Glasgow with joy.
