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Roy Keane is a Manchester United great, but things would have turned out very differently had he stuck to a promise.
The Irishman is one of the Red Devils' most decorated players of all time, winning seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League between 1993 and 2005.
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But one person may feel particularly aggrieved at Keane's achievements at Old Trafford, with the former midfielder initially pledging to join Blackburn instead, then managed by Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish.
Before going down as a Premier League icon with United, a young Keane made a name for himself at Nottingham Forest in the early 1990s under legendary manager Brian Clough.
However, the then 22-year-old found himself at a career crossroads in 1993 when Forest were relegated from the top-flight.
With Keane's contract containing a £3.5million release clause, the former Ireland international has since revealed that it was actually Rovers who were set to pay over the odds for his signature.
Speaking on The Overlap's 'Stick to Football' in June, he explained how a move to Ewood Park had appeared all but sealed.
Keane recalled: “During the summer I met with Blackburn and Kenny Dalglish, they agreed a £4million deal with Forest.
“Nottingham Forest were delighted because Blackburn were giving the £500,000 extra, they weren’t waiting until September 1 (for his release clause) as they wanted me for pre-season.
"I was on £250,000 (per year) at Forest and Kenny said they could give me £400,000. I think I [initially] asked for £500,000 because I heard [striker Alan Shearer] was on that."
Keane then agreed to sign for the Lancashire outfit, only for the deal to be put on hold temporarily as the club's office closed for the weekend.
He continued: “I was sitting in an office and said, ‘Okay, I’ll do the deal’, and shook hands.
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“It was a Friday evening and Blackburn said the people in the office are gone so we can’t draw the contract up, so I got a flight back home and said: ‘We’ll come back next week and sort it out.'
But there was to be a twist to the tale, as a hungover Keane then received an unexpected phone call once back home in Ireland.
The 53-year-old went on: “I flew back to Cork, went out on the Saturday night, had a good night because I was going to Blackburn and getting a nice little pay rise.
“Sunday morning I’m in bed, not in great form, my mother comes up and said that Alex Ferguson is on the phone.
"He said that he’d been trying to speak to me, and I said: ‘I’ve agreed to go to Blackburn’.
“He said: ‘Have you signed anything?’ I said: ‘No’, so he asked me to meet him. I flew to Manchester on the Monday to meet him.”
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Keane's head was quickly turned by the Red Devils' interest, and then sought the help of a solicitor recommended by Ireland teammate David O'Leary to convince United to raise their offer of wages.
The midfielder would ultimately accept a reduced £350,000 annual salary to join the reigning English champions, later signing for a then-British transfer record of £3.75m.
But with Keane going back on his verbal agreement to join Blackburn, he shared how a furious Dalglish reacted to the news.
He recalled: “[He said] Something like: ‘You’re a f****** joke, no one does this to Kenny Dalglish!’
Keane then revealed how he was unable to enjoy his upcoming lads holiday in Ayia Napa after informing Dalglish of his plans before returning to sign for United.
The United legend said: “Kenny was going mad and I remember saying: ‘Kenny I’m going on my holidays tomorrow,’ I said ‘listen I’m going to enjoy myself’.
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"That’s you know: ‘I’ll sign for them when I get back’. So I said: ‘I’m done’.
“He said ‘I’ll f****** find you’.
“I was in Ayia Napa for a week looking over my shoulder! I swear!”
And Keane's decision to risk Dalglish's wrath certainly paid off in the long-run.
He went on to play 477 games for United, serving as club captain from 1997 until his 2005 departure in a golden era for the club.
But Dalglish wasn't the only manager who he managed to cross in his career, with the straight-talking former star infamously leaving Old Trafford after a public falling out with Ferguson.
Keane was shown the door by Sir Alex following an explosive interview on MUTV, in which he criticised his own teammates.
He has taken that no-nonsense approach into his post playing days where he is now a much loved TV analyst.
His strong opinions that enraged his former boss now get fans talking each weekend.
'There's only one Keano' as the Old Trafford faithful used to sing.
