KEANE WAS "VERY CLOSE" TO LEAVING
MANCHESTER UNITED captain Roy Keane has revealed that he was "very close" to leaving Old Trafford during contract talks which saw the club smash their wage structure to keep him.
In an exclusive interview with planetfootball.com at Thursday night's Football Writers Player of the Year dinner, which saw the Irishman scoop the top prize (pictured), Keane admitted: "I was very close to leaving.
"I think the club realised that, especially coming up to January 1st - when I would have been entitled to sign for a foreign club.
"I was holding for the best possible deal but these things take time, and eventually everything was sorted out and I am as happy as anyone.
"It was important that I got the right deal because I am 28 now and it was a big contract for me. I knew deep down that I was happy in Manchester, not just the club but the city."
Keane also revealed that, despite winning the Premiership for the sixth time in eight years, the season did not turn out to be as successful as he would have hoped.
"It was a far from perfect season," he said. "To win the Premiership was great but there were many disappointments.
"The Real Madrid game at home was one - and obviously the Brazil trip, which didn't work out as planned. Not being able to defend the FA Cup was a disappointment. To win the league is always nice and hopefully next year we can do a lot better."
The Eire skipper also admitted that he would have loved to have led the side in Euro 2000 after losing in the play-offs for the finals to Turkey, but that he was looking forward to beginning qualification for the 2002 World Cup in the Autumn.
"It was a major disappointment for Ireland, especially to get so close. It was a bitter blow because it's 1994 now since we've qualified for a major tournament.
"I think with the players we have got we're more than capable of qualifying but it's going to be difficult, we're in the top group with Portugal and Holland but you've got to do it the hard way."
