Juventus wanted Man United captain Roy Keane, reveals former chief Luciano Moggi – ‘He would have made our midfield unbeatable’

Former Juventus director, Luciano Moggi, has revealed the Serie A giants were on the cusp of completing a deal to sign Roy Keane from Manchester United in 1999.

Earlier this month, legendary boss Marcello Lippi was also quoted as saying that Juve were ‘very close’ to bringing the no-nonsense midfielder to Turin.

However, a deal fell through because personal terms were not agreed.

In an interview with the Mail, Moggi explained just how close the prospect of signing Keane was to becoming a realisation.

“We were very close to Roy Keane when his contract was expiring with United,” he said.

“He would have made our midfield unbeatable. He was a phenomenal player.”

Keane was not the only Premier League player who caught Juve’s eye in the late 90s – with legendary striker Alan Shearer also on their radar.

“I always appreciated Alan Shearer, a unique striker who would have scored over 100 goals in a few years,” Moggi added.

Both went on to have hugely successful careers, with Keane winning seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League during a 12-year stint at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Shearer bagged a club record 206 goals in his 404 Newcastle appearances – with the former England striker still the leading marksman in Premier League history.