“The next 48 hours are going to be fascinating.”
Actually, Richard, we only needed about two hours, not 48.
Things got a bit hyper on Saturday when Richard Keys’ colleagues at BeIN Sport Arabic broke the news that Pep Guardiola had agreed to become Man City manager next season.
Of course, Keys had himself found this out first, as he reminds us in his latest blog, a tool he uses every week to tell us about how connected he is in the world of football, take credit for things everybody else thinks, and reveal Sky Sports conspiracies.
Speaking about the scoop BeIN had received, Keys says that he actually knew about it before everyone else, but chose not to say anything. Instead, Keys says he didn’t feel that the world needed to know the information, but that if his colleagues were to share it he’d be happy to take the credit.
“I’d received the same information as them about two hours before they let the story go. My reaction when I did? I just stared at the text and swallowed – hard. I sat on it for an hour or so because of the enormity of it but never once doubted it because the source was impeccable – somebody I trust implicitly.
“As a journalist you have to make a judgement on whether to let the information out. I was fronting a monstrous ‘live’ football show so had the ideal opportunity, but it never once occurred to me that it was information that should be in the public domain. If it was going to come out I was more than happy to follow my colleagues on our Arabic channels.”
However, within an hour or so of Richard’s latest blog hitting our screens, Pep gave a fairly emphatic answer to the claims he had agreed to join Man City.
“I have said it 200 million times that my future lies at Sabener Strasse [the club’s training facilities].
“I have one more year left on my contract. I will be here next season.”
Keys also uses this week’s blog to say how sorry he feels for QPR fans for the miserable season they’ve had to endure, and while we’d second his thoughts there, he goes on to issue us with another ‘I told you so’ spiel, despite the fact that this is something that has been regularly spoken about.
Also, it’s another classic Keys-ism, as he casually drops in how connected he is in the world of football. He and Tony Fernandez are pals, you see.
“I feel for Chris Ramsey and Tony Fernandes, the part owner. But I did warn Tony. Who in their right mind trusts their club to ‘Arry? I know I’m going to get a bit of stick for returning to this subject, but as about the only person prepared to speak honestly about ‘Arry, I have to. This mess is on his toes.
“He spent the money – £72m of it + wages and agents fees – more than anyone outside the top 7, on this bunch of ageing has beens. He was the Captain of the ship. He’s to blame, no-one else. And 24 hours after he was denied two more money wasting buys he makes up some nonsense about dodgy knees and walks out. Thanks ‘Arry.”
Richard Keys. The truth.
