Manchester United legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville were in full agreement over who was a “tough” opponent to play against in training sessions at the club.
Roy Keane and Gary Neville played alongside one another at Old Trafford and the duo shared incredible success under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Neville, who was a famed member of the ‘Class of ’92,’ emerged from the Manchester United youth academy and spent his entire career at Old Trafford.
The 49-year-old former United right-back inherited the captain’s armband after fellow club legend Keane was axed from the Premier League club.
Keane, who is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of all time, excelled during his time as United captain under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 52-year-old was well-known – and widely admired – for his tough-as-nails reputation and no-nonsense approach as a United player.
Keane wasn’t afraid to commit to a challenge and the former United captain had a legendary rivalry with Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira as a player.
The ex-United midfielder left Old Trafford in 2005 after his contract was terminated amid his fractured relationship with legendary former manager Ferguson.
Keane names ‘tough’ opponent at Man Utd
Speaking on the Stick to Football show, Roy Keane opened up about his experience at Manchester United and his tough time with one former teammate.
The Sky Sports pundit shared the pitch with a roster of star-studded talent, including fellow United legends Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Eric Cantona.
However, Keane admitted that former United player Quinton Fortune would be difficult to handle in a one-on-one challenge in training.
Speaking to Gary Neville, Keane said on The Overlap: “Do you know who is tough to play against at United in training? Quinton Fortune, wasn’t he?
“Ah, [he was] strong. In a one vs one, he was tough, wasn’t he? Quinton was a tough lad. In training, one vs ones, tough.”
Neville reacted and agreed with Keane over his admission about Quinton Fortune, who made 126 appearances for the Red Devils under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Fortune arrived at Old Trafford in 1999 from Atletico Madrid and appeared sporadically for the Red Devils during his time at the club.
The 47-year-old former South Africa international, who lifted a Premier League title with United, would leave Old Trafford in 2006 and sign for Bolton Wanderers.
Quinton Fortune admitted that he was ready to adapt his position during his time at United amid the roster of talented players Ferguson had at his disposal.
The former United player, who could play at left-back or in midfield, revealed he adopted the mindset of wanting to play irrespective of his position at the Red Devils.
“I was coming into a team that had just won the Treble,” Fortune told The Independent in 2020, before adding: “So it wasn’t like I could come in and say to Sir Alex, ‘Look, boss, I want to play in midfield.’
“He would say, ‘I’ve got Roy Keane in the middle with Scholesy; Giggs is on the left and Becks is on the right …’
“Whatever position he was going to give me, I would take. I was grateful to be playing. I had a mindset of: as long as I’m on the pitch, I don’t care where I play.
“In the beginning, when Sir Alex played me left-back, I was very fortunate because he put me there in pre-season in America, so I was able to make mistakes and adapt to that position. Then I was fine. I just enjoyed playing.”
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