Juve linked with Keane

Bluebird · Post by **Bluebird** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:13 am

Italian giants Juventus are reported to have expressed an interest in signing free agent Roy Keane.

According to reports, the Serie A champions want to add the Irishman - who sensationally left Manchester United by mutual consent last Friday - to their midfield which already features his former Arsenal adversary Patrick Vieira.

In addition to the Frenchman, Juve also have Brazilian holding midfielder and sometime national team captain Emerson in their ranks, so it could be questioned whether the Turin side really need the added bite of Keane.

Roma are also said to be in pursuit of the 34-year-old, while closer to home Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce did not rule out trying to set up a cross-city switch for the player.

"I think this club would like to be associated with good players and Roy Keane falls into that category," said Pearce, who spent three years with the tough-tackling midfielder at Nottingham Forest in the early 1990s.

"Every club in the world at the moment has their name attached to Roy Keane. I think the fact we are in a city where he lives and works means we might be attached as well.

"As long as this club continues to get attached to good players I think that is a good thing.

"We are certainly looking at players who might improve our team - we always are and always will be and Roy is a good player, one who can improve our team.

"'He is a good player and that is borne out by the number of teams who have been associated with a player who has only been released by his club for a couple of days."

Celtic would seem a good fit for Keane, though the Hoops chief executive Brian Quinn has pointed out he would need to take a severe cut in wages for the Parkhead club to afford him.

"There are two separate issues," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"One is a footballing issue, whether Roy would fit into Gordon's plans and the formation - because the team is playing very well just now and is very settled.

"But that is Gordon's judgement and we have to take that into account.

"The other is the business side, and we would have to wait and see what is proposed.

"We have heard nothing from Roy Keane, nothing from his representatives and until you see what the proposal is, it is premature to offer a view on that."

Portsmouth were one of the first clubs to declare an interest in Keane, while Wigan, Everton, West Brom and Aston Villa have all been linked to the player.

Looks like he wont be coming to PR then!

Gaz · Post by **Gaz** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:39 am

I hope he does sign for Juve, what a class midfield they would have.

Vieira, Keane, Emerson and Nedved

toby · Post by **toby** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:30 am

Vieira and Keane in the same midfield?

I thought that they hated each others guts?

Could be funny seeing them line up as team mates!

Gaz · Post by **Gaz** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:40 am

Doesn't look like he's going to Juve now, they are not interested in him!

Italian sides Juventus and Roma have both ruled out trying to sign former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane.
The 34-year-old made a shock exit from Old Trafford last week and reports said the two Serie A sides were interested.

But a Juve spokesman told BBC Sport: "Juventus is very strong right now and we do not need any more players."

And a Roma official said: "We've never been in contact with Keane or his agent because he is a player that doesn't interest us, not now or in the future."

The Juve official refused to confirm reports in the Independent that Keane's lawyer Michael Kennedy had made contact with Juventus to see if they were interested.

Keane would not have been eligible for the Champions League for Juve, having already played in the competition.

Juve are top of their Champions League group and within sight of the next stage while also leading Serie A by five points.

They are already well stocked in midfield, with former Arsenal star Vieira, who has had his fair share of run-ins with Keane in the past, and Brazilian Emerson.

TractorRob · Post by **TractorRob** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:47 am

Gaz wrote:I hope he does sign for Juve, what a class midfield they would have.

Vieira, Keane, Emerson and Nedved

Three ageing defensive midfielders and an attacking midfielder, wouldnt be much width there.

It'd fit in well with Italian football.