Roy Keane rejected by Manchester United

Manchester United have been making waves off the pitch as much as on it this week, with interim manager Michael Carrick taking charge of his first Manchester derby.

The Red Devils have shown renewed energy under Carrick, and attention is firmly on how he handles the media spotlight in the coming fixtures.

Before Sunday’s showdown at Old Trafford, Sky Sports reportedly attempted a bold move that caught United officials off guard.

The broadcaster requested Carrick carry out a live interview directly with the studio before the match, a studio featuring none other than Roy Keane, as reported by the Daily Mail.

With tensions still simmering from incidents more than a decade ago, the request was always going to be controversial.

Back in 2014, Roy Keane publicly criticised Carrick following a dour post-match interview after a Champions League defeat to Olympiakos.

Carrick’s wife responded with a social media post saying, “Roy Keane what a **** will say anything to provoke a reaction,” before quickly deleting it.

The comment has apparently lingered in Keane’s memory, resurfacing in a recent podcast discussion.

Speaking on The Overlap, Keane said, “His wife can always come in [if Carrick doesn’t do well], cause she’s got a bit of a big mouth sometimes.

“She’s probably doing the team talk.”

The Sky request put United in a delicate position, as asking Carrick to speak in the same studio as Keane risked inflaming old tensions.

Sources suggest the club swiftly declined, instead allowing Gary Neville to handle the interview, leaving Carrick free to focus on the derby itself.

Carrick brushed off the past at his pre-match press conference, staying firmly professional while his team prepared to face Manchester City.

The drama surrounding the broadcast request added a layer of intrigue off the pitch.