Roy Keane reveals he apologised to Man United defender Harry Maguire

• Roy Keane apologised to Manchester United defender Harry Maguire 
• Keane admitted that he ‘crossed the line’ with his criticism of the centre-back
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Roy Keane has revealed that he apologised to Harry Maguire after previously mocking the Manchester United defender. 

Maguire has often received criticism from pundits in recent years for his performances for United and England.

However, Keane admitted that he took matters too far and stated that his criticism of Maguire was ‘personal’.

Speaking on The Overlap Special, brought to you by Sky Bet, Keane said: ‘I was harsh on Harry Maguire for footballing reasons and obviously we do a lot of [Manchester] United matches – obviously he’s struggled at United, had a tough time with England – but more so club level. We’re on about the mental health of players, and I’ve crossed the line with Maguire – I mocked him a little bit and it’s not nice.

‘I’ve played the game, I know how hard it is, but I’m also big enough. I bumped into Harry a few months ago and I apologised to him. Sometimes as pundits we get it wrong as well, but there is a point where you go, if it’s personal then you’re crossing the line.’

In October 2021, after United were thrashed 5-0 by Liverpool, Keane didn’t hold back in his criticism of Maguire.

Maguire, the United captain at the time, issued a public apology to the club’s supporters in an interview after the game.

That prompted Keane to mock Maguire as he did an impression of the centre-back.

Furthermore, he also accused Maguire of showing a lack of professionalism.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Keane said: ‘I heard Maguire talking during the week, there’s no emotion behind it. Shaw’s fallen back into his old habits from a few years ago.

‘Maguire needs to sort his game out. It’s nothing to do with fitness, it’s just a lack of professionalism. There are clearly talented players at the top of the pitch. Midfield and defensively you do worry.’

Keane added that Maguire and fellow defender Luke Shaw were ‘an absolute disgrace to the club.’

Earlier this year Keane claimed that Maguire is holding his United team-mates back from committing to an aggressive press.

After United were beaten 2-1 by Fulham, Keane told the Stick To Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet: ‘They aren’t pressing up. I don’t want to be just pinning it on [Harry] Maguire, but there’s always that worry with Maguire coming up and squeezing the pitch, like all the other top teams are doing.’

‘There’s that worry with him all the time – that’s where there is gaps. They are frightened to death to come all the way up because they’re thinking ‘anything over the top, he’d be in trouble.’ 

Maguire has made over 200 appearances for United since joining from Leicester in 2019. He has been capped by England on 63 occasions but missed out on the final squad for Euro 2024 due to injury.