Haaland doubts Keane exit motives

ROY KEANE’S bête noir Alf-Inge Haaland has suggested that the Irishman walked out of Sunderland before he was asked to leave after a run of six defeats in seven matches.

The two men famously fell out after Keane admitted in his autobiography that he had intended to hurt Haaland in a Manchester United-Leeds clash in 2001, in a challenge for which Keane was sent off and later handed a five-match ban and £150,000 fine.

“Everyone knows what a big club Sunderland is, and with the crowds they are getting and the passion they have, it’s like Manchester City, you expect them to be right up there,” said Haaland.