Revealed: Roy Keane told young Man United star 'you'll be playing for a pub team in a couple of years' after insisting he would not make it at Old Trafford - and claims he was right!

Roy Keane has recalled how he told young Manchester United star that he would be 'playing for a pub team in a couple of years' after insisting he didn't have what it took to succeed at Old Trafford. 

Keane enjoyed tremendous success at United following his £3.75million move from Nottingham Forest in 1993 and developed a reputation for taking no nonsense at the club captain. 

The legendary midfielder - who was part of seven league title triumphs, including in their famous Treble-winning season of 1999 at United - told his team-mates exactly what he thought, even if it got him into trouble. 

In the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, Keane revealed how he told one player that he would be 'playing for a pub team in a couple of years' before opening up on a row he had with Darren Fletcher. 

When asked whether he was right to grill his team-mates, Keane said he felt like he balanced it well and insisted he was just trying to 'set an example' before admitting he did get it wrong on occasion. 

In the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, Rio Ferdinand recalled how Keane slammed Michael Stewart before training. He said: 'We were sitting on the ledge where you do your leg swings before you go out to training.

'Michael Stewart was a young lad, Scottish international, he was there and I don't know what triggered Roy, but I could hear him saying, "You'll never make it, you. You'll be playing for a pub team in a couple years' time if you carry on the way you are".' 

Keane was quick to defend himself, claiming Stewart - who left Manchester United in August 2005 - needed the motivation. He said: 'I was right! He ended up playing for Hibernian and Heats. I was trying to motivate him.' 

Stewart started his career at United before playing for both Hearts and Hibernian. He also played for Nottingham Forest and Charlton Athletic. However, he never reached the heights expected of him, despite earning four caps for his country. 

Keane's spat with Stewart wasn't the first, and certainly wasn't the last, time he spoke his mind. 

The former Manchester United midfielder would regularly get involved in heated clashes with opponents, referees and, at times, even his own team mates and managers. 

While some of those traits have carried over into his second career as a pundit, it was during his playing career that Keane became known for his tirades and ruling with an iron fist. 

The now 51-year-old, rarely spotted with a smile on his face, used to grill his team-mates for being on their phones while in the dressing room - with one particular moment with Fletcher standing out. 

Keane said: The team hadn’t won in a week, and I was trying to make a point to the players, don’t forget what it’s about – a lot of players at the time were going through a phase where they were on their phones in the dressing room. You’re trying to help a player and set an example, I’ve got loads of time for Fletch.'

Keane also took issue with social media, claiming the introduction of Twitter (now called X). He said players were too focused on checking their accounts rather than the football being played on the pitch. 

In the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, the former Man United captain said: 'The introduction of Twitter etc, that was the downside of the dressing room. 

'You go back to when we played, sounds like it was a hundred years ago, and I had it before I left United, had a chat with some of the players, saying that there was no problem with players going on Twitter, but it was when players were coming in after training. 

'I always thought it was important in a dressing room that lads would have some sort of conversation, but the phones were taking over.'

When asked whether he was ever wrong for grilling his team-mates, Keane said: 'Of course, absolutely but I think most times I got it right. When you’re trying to set examples, you think they’ve got it wrong but the older you get you think maybe [I was wrong].'