Roy Keane expects to stay at Manchester United and will sign a new contract, if offered, one of his representatives said yesterday. "Roy wishes to finish his career at Manchester United but whether he does so is in the hands of those who make decisions at the club," said the adviser.
In the wake of Keane's now infamous MUTV interview, which was pulled by the club because of his inflammatory comments about several United players' performances in the 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough, it had been suggested that he would depart Old Trafford, possibly as soon as January.
His current contract expires next June, which means that he will be free to enter negotiations with other clubs in January, but his representatives said that they expected discussions of a new contract to begin shortly with the United chief executive David Gill and that, assuming the terms were acceptable, Keane would sign for another season. It would be his 14th at Old Trafford.
If United choose not to offer him a new deal, however, in January he will be able to speak to other clubs about joining them next summer. He could also leave in January for a fee.
Celtic are long-standing admirers and, though he has said he could not play for another English club against United, an acrimonious exit might alter his thinking. Two managers of northern English clubs have previously expressed an interest in him but there has been no new contact.
"If there was no contract offer, come January he would have to explore all the options," said a Keane adviser. "It would be foolish not to."
Keane, who is injured and was not in Paris with United, will soon find out how his prospects stand. The club cannot be happy with his public criticism of team-mates. "Just because you are paid £120,000 a week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham, you think you are a superstar," Keane is alleged to have said of Rio Ferdinand.
"I wasn't surprised by the result," he is also reported to have said of the 4-1 defeat. "I had been expecting one like this. The players have been asked questions and they are just not coming up with the answers. I am sick of having to say it and they are sick of listening to me. They have let down the club, the manager and the fans."
