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My request for a trial at Aston Villa was rejected but then I became Britain’s most expensive player three years later
Aston Villa recently oversaw a British record sale – but the Villans could have been involved in another back in 1993.
£100m entered the accounts at Villa Park in August 2021 when Manchester City paid a then British record fee to sign Jack Grealish, after he꧙ enjoyed a superb 2020/21 campaign with seve𝄹n goals and ten assists in 27 appearances across all competitions.
However, as aforesaid, Aston Villa could have been involved in another British record sale during the nineties in regards to Roy Keane – had the Villans ꦑresponded differently to a letter from ꩵthe Irishman.
Aston Villa declined Roy Keane request for a trial
During his teenage years, a young Ke꧅ane faced rejection almost everywhere he went.
The man from Cork was snubbed by the Republic of Ireland after several ♛trials at both U14 and U15 level – calling the latter rejection “the worst disappointment of my life” in his 2002 autobiography.
Keane was in limbo, and decided to write letters to several English sides in a bid to earn a trial, getting in contact with Asto🐻n Villa – as well as Chelsea, Derby County, Nottingha🦋m Forest, Sheffield Wednesday – according to .
Each side declined his request, although the tough-tackling m💃idfielder found a place to settle at Cobh Ramblers, impressing with the Irish side enough toꦦ make Nottingham Forest come crawling back to see if he remained interested in a move to the City Ground.
Roy Keane becomes the most expensive player in Britain
Three years and 127 appearances f☂or Nottingham Forest later, Keane found himself holding a Manchester United scarf aloft on the pitch at Old Trafford – after the Red Devils opted to splash out a British record £3.75m to sign him.
No doubt Aston Villa – along with Chelsea, Derby Cou🐻nty and Sheffield Wedn🌳esday – were kicking themselves at the sight of that image.
Keane, who enjoyed great battles with Patri𒅌ck V🌄ieira, ultimately went on to be named in the Premier League Hall of Fame, having lifted seven Premier League titles – along with many other pieces of silverware – and ൲making the PFA Team of the ꦆYear on five occasions.
He did eventually end up at Aಌston Villa in January 2019 as assistant manager to Paul Lambert – had things turned out differently, there may have been photos of himself in the corridors of Villa Park awaiting him.