Juan Sebastian Veron would have flourished at Man Utd if Roy Keane had not ‘killed’ him, claims Rio Ferdinand
RIO FERDINAND blames Roy Keane’s “overpowering” personality for Juan Sebastian Veron becoming one of Manchester United’s most famous ever failures. Old Trafford legend Ferdinand believes Keane’s dominant presence “killed” Veron’s chances of showing the “unbelievable” playmaking ability that made him the “main man” for Parma and Lazio. Argentina star Veron cost United £28.1million in 2001, […]
RIO FERDINAND blames Roy Keane’s “overpowering” personality for Juan Sebastian Veron becoming one of Manchester United’s most famous ever failures.
Old Trafford legend Ferdinand believes Keane’s dominant presence “killed” Veron’s chances of showing the “unbelievable” playmaking ability that made him the “main man” for Parma and Lazio.
Argentina star Veron cost United £28.1million in 2001, winning the September player of the month award, but soon faded.
Chelsea paid £15m for the midfielder two seasons later, but he spent most of his four frustrating years at Stamford Bridge on loan with Inter Milan and Estudiantes.
Yet ex-England defender Ferdinand claims Veron’s only problem at Old Trafford was showing too much respect for Keane when the Republic of Ireland hardman continually demanded the ball.
The Mail report Ferdy as saying: “Veron scored one of the best goals I’ve ever seen in training.
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“The little rabona thing, bang from the halfway line, the whole training session shut down, stopped: ‘Did you just see that, what Juan Sebastian’s just done there?’
“He was an unbelievable player, great passer.
“The only thing I think that killed him was Roy Keane was probably a bit more of a dominant personality and was picking the ball up in his positions.”
I think Roy was his problem. And it wasn’t Roy’s fault… his personality was bigger and more overpowering.”
Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand feels that Veron bowed to Keane’s stature, rather than trying to maintain the lynchpin role he forged for himself in Serie A.
He added: “You have to remember Veron came from Lazio, Parma where he was the main man, the whole game went through him.He came to United, that’s what Roy Keane did.
‘Keane came and got it off the defenders, passed it through to the midfielders and attackers, and got in positions and was very vocal, like ‘Yeah, give me the ball! Give me the ball!’
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“And out of respect probably Seba just said, ‘I’ll let Roy keep doing that’.
“But Seba was an amazing talent. ‘I honestly think without Roy Keane there he might have flourished in a Man United shirt.
“I think Roy Keane was his problem. And it wasn’t Roy Keane’s fault, it’s just that his personality was bigger and more overpowering.”