What we said about him really killed his career. I wish I never said that. I have to call him and apologise to him. He almost left Manchester United because of me…”-Roy Keane admits he contacted Man Utd player to personally apologise for ‘crossing the line’ as a pundit.

Roy Keane has disclosed that he personally apologized to a Manchester United player after realizing he “crossed the line” with his punditry remarks.

Keane, renowned for his direct analysis, has been vocal in his critique of United, especially amid their recent struggles. He described their performance as “shocking” following their 3-0 loss to Liverpool.

Defender Harry Maguire, who frequently came under Keane’s scrutiny, had a tough period on the field but has made a strong recovery over the past year. Despite speculation about a move away from United last summer, the 31-year-old managed to regain his place in the team and has performed well when fit.

Maguire also received backing from then-England manager Gareth Southgate after facing mockery from Scotland fans during England’s 3-1 victory at Hampden Park last September. Southgate remarked, “I’ve never known a player treated the way he is,” calling the derision “an absolute joke.”

During Maguire’s challenging phase, Keane was among those delivering severe criticism. However, in a June episode of *The Overlap’s Stick to Football*, Keane admitted he had overstepped and personally apologized to Maguire.

“I was too critical of Harry Maguire for football reasons,” Keane said. “He’s had a hard time at United and with England, but especially at club level. We talk about players’ mental health, and I crossed the line with Maguire. I made fun of him, and that’s not right.”

Keane noted that he apologized after understanding the effect of his comments when he encountered Maguire. “Sometimes as pundits, we make mistakes, but it’s crossing the line when it becomes personal.”

Reflecting on his own experiences with criticism as a player, Keane discussed how media attention impacted his family, particularly his parents. “The World Cup [Saipan incident in 2002] and leaving Manchester United—these stories made my parents ill, 100 percent. It has a significant effect on your family.”

Keane underscored the need to keep football analysis professional without making it personal. “We all have a responsibility. If you focus on football and avoid crossing the line, that’s what counts.”

Roy Keane recently revealed that he apologized to Manchester United defender Harry Maguire after realizing he had gone too far with his critical remarks. Known for his blunt punditry, Keane had harshly criticized Maguire during the defender’s struggles, particularly after Manchester United’s poor performances. However, Keane admitted on *The Overlap’s Stick to Football* in June that his criticism of Maguire had crossed the line and became personal, which led him to reflect on the potential mental health impact of such comments.

Keane emphasized that pundits must be careful not to make their analysis personal, highlighting how severe media scrutiny affected his own family during his playing career. He apologized to Maguire, recognizing that while criticism is part of the game, it should remain professional and avoid becoming too personal.