Fergie dismisses Keane rumours

Alex Ferguson has dismissed claims he axed Roy Keane from Manchester United’s Far East tour for disciplinary reasons.

Rumours of a row between Ferguson and Keane at United’s training camp in Portugal three weeks ago have surfaced, with subsequent speculation that it was the major reason for the Red Devils skipper missing Ferguson’s 24-man party, rather than the hamstring injury he is said to be suffering from.

Keane’s advisor Michael Kennedy yesterday rejected such talk, insisting the claims were “without foundation”. And Ferguson added his weight to the argument in typically blunt terms when he addressed the media prior to tomorrow’s encounter with Beijing Hyundai.

“Roy Keane is injured, it is as simple as that,” said Ferguson. “You can’t travel if you are injured. There is nothing else to say.”

Given the esteem with which he holds Keane, the suggestion Ferguson might prevent him being part of a tour which is such a vital part of United’s pre-season programme always appeared a little odd.

Throughout his 12-year Old Trafford career, the influential 33-year-old midfielder has always been one of Ferguson’s closest allies.

In recent times, the Scot has even adjusted United’s tactics to take some of the pressure off his captain, while he has also suggested he could replace him as Red Devils manager at some stage.

However, it is becoming apparent the pair did not share the same philosophy over United’s trip to Portugal.

In an effort to avoid the early season stumble which wrecked last season’s title challenge, Ferguson called his squad back a week earlier than usual, but with training on the Algarve restricted to half daily sessions, the United boss decided to let wives and children accompany his squad for the duration of the week-long stay.

It seems the move did not go down well with Keane, who famously stormed out of Ireland’s World Cup preparations in Japan three years ago after voicing sustained complaints over Mick McCarthy's training methods and the facilities available.

Ferguson’s attention to detail is such that Keane is highly unlikely to have found any issue over the training complex itself. But it is likely to have annoyed the United skipper that attention was being diverted away from preparations for the new season.

After two successive failures in the Premiership and Champions League, the notoriously Keane felt the Old Trafford squad should have been concentrating their energies solely on training – and is thought to have told Ferguson so in a typically frank manner.

Given the combustible nature of both characters, the response is likely to have been equally forthright, but it would be a major surprise if either allowed the row to rumble on any further.

Meanwhile, Ferguson confirmed winger Cristiano Ronaldo would probably make a 20-minute appearance in Beijing tomorrow after finally linking up with the tour.

The Portuguese international was given compassionate leave last week to visit his seriously ill father, but the 20-year-old has been sufficiently eased about his condition to make the journey to China.

“Cristiano arrived this morning,” confirmed Ferguson. “He won’t start the game tomorrow. He may play a part but it won’t be any more than 20 minutes.”