Roy Keane shares great Ayia Napa story with Kenny Dalglish during the Overlap live

Rory Fleming

Keane recalled an infamous exchange he held with the Liverpool legend.

Roy Keane is always good value for money with a microphone in front of him, and the latest instalment of the Overlap Live proved to be no different.

The former Republic of Ireland captain was joined on stage by Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, with Keane recalling an infamous exchange between the pair.

Keane and Dalglish’s infamous phone call.

With the Cork man so synonymous with Manchester United, it’s hard to envisage him playing anywhere else other than Old Trafford, but that’s nearly what happened back in 1993 when Keane was departing Nottingham Forest.

The midfielder was a man in demand, and then-Blackburn manager Kenny Dalglish thought he had all but secured Keane’s signature to bring him to Ewood Park.

However, Keane performed a last-minute U-turn after Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson got in contact with him on a sojourn home in Cork.

The rest is history as they say, with the imperious midfielder going on to create a trophy-laden legacy at Old Trafford during a 12-year period at the club.

Keane v Dalglish 😉😁

📺 Ep 3 of The Overlap on Tour at 9pm BST on Sky Max. pic.twitter.com/OMPurzCUYA

— Kelly Cates (@KellyCates) June 28, 2023

One doesn’t simply turn down a man like Kenny Dalglish in such a manner though, as Keane recalled on stage;

“I was lucky to have or two options. I did shake hands and said ‘I’ll come’, I think the contract was basically agreed. I went back to Ireland and got a phone call from United.

“The mistake I made is that I said I would sign. Obviously I had no regrets about United, but you (speaking to Dalglish) weren’t too happy with me.

“Everyone thinks Kenny is a really nice guy. I’ll always remember he rang me, and obviously word got out that I wasn’t going to Blackburn, and he said ‘I’m not happy, you shook hands’. I said ‘I did, I’m sorry Kenny’ and blah, blah, blah.

“I said ‘listen, I’m going on my holidays tomorrow’. I was going to Ayia Napa, there was a couple of museums over there that I wanted to go and see.

“Do you know what said? He said ‘I’m going to find you over there’. Honestly! For the next two weeks I’m in Ayia Napa, and every bar I was in I’m looking over my shoulder! I’m thinking ‘he’s coming to get me'”.

So, there you have it. Lesson learned, never cross Kenny Dalglish- a figure so revered that he even made Keane look over his shoulder.