I didn't speak to him for 12 months - Man Utd's Roy Keane recalls clash with ex teammate

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has opened up about his famously fiery personality during his time at Old Trafford, revealing he once refused to speak to teammate Gary Pallister for an entire year, all over a disagreement during a night out.

Keane, known for his hard-nosed style and intense leadership, was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast when he shared details of the rift that began in the 1997/98 pre-season.

“Me and 'Palli' didn't speak for about 12 months. You just have these disagreements,” Keane said.

The clash reportedly began when Pallister left a team night out early, something that Keane, who had just taken over from Eric Cantona as captain, took personally.

The falling out led to a full season of cold shoulders between the two United stars, even as they lined up together on matchdays.

Despite the silent feud, their professional relationship on the pitch remained intact.

Pallister later recounted the situation in a 2023 interview with AceOdds, saying, “We'd shake hands before a game and sort of laugh, but neither of us would break the ice. So we went through the whole season being like that.”

The standoff only ended when Pallister left United for Middlesbrough in 1998. As he returned to the training ground to collect his belongings, he ran into Keane one last time.

“We started walking into each other, and we both started laughing. He put his hand out and shook mine. He wished me all the best at Middlesbrough, and that’s how the ice was broken.”

Roy Keane captained Manchester United during one of their most dominant eras, winning seven Premier League titles and the historic 1999 treble.