“I regret that decision every day” — Roy Keane

Roy Keane, known for his no-nonsense approach on and off the pitch, recently revealed a surprising regret in his autobiography: turning down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Real Madrid. And the twist? He made the decision in the most unusual of places—sitting on the toilet.

In his latest memoir, Keane recounts how he was approached by Real Madrid’s then-sporting director, Emilio Butragueño, who called him in 2005 with a tempting offer to join the Spanish giants.

“I took my phone everywhere with me waiting for the call,” Roy Keane recalls, “and – how’s your luck – he rang me while I was on the toilet.”

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The offer from Madrid, which would have made Keane one of the famed “Galácticos,” was ultimately rejected by the former United captain, who chose Celtic instead.

Reflecting on his decision, Roy Keane admits he regrets not taking the leap to Spain. “I should have appreciated Real’s offer more. I took a negative approach,” he confessed, lamenting the missed chance to experience Spanish culture, learn the language, and prolong his career in sunnier climes.

Keane’s reasoning at the time was rooted in his desire to make a big impact on a team, not just fill a role.

“Real Madrid might just have wanted someone to do a job…but I wanted to have an effect on a team,” he explained.

Now, with the wisdom of hindsight, Roy Keane acknowledges the allure he missed and the adventure that could have been, leaving fans to imagine the fiery Irishman in the iconic white of Madrid.