Chiellini jokes with Roy Keane: ‘I was thinking about coming to Sunderland’ | OneFootball

Legendary former Juventus and Italy centre-back Giorgio Chiellini has joked that he almost signed for English Championship side Sunderland due to his strong affection for their former coach and ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane.

Chiellini was a guest on the first episode of the new season of The Overlap on Tour, starring Keane alongside Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright.

Chiellini and Roy Keane nearly signed for each others’ clubs

The recently-retired Bianconeri defender spoke of his fondness for Keane, and even appeared wearing one of his old Manchester United shirts, which he then asked Keane to sign.

“Imagine, from Juventus, I was thinking about coming to Sunderland. It was really just for him,” Chiellini said about Keane.

He also went on to tell Keane that he is probably more ‘appreciated’ in Italy than he is in the UK, largely due to his performance in the 1999 Champions League semi-final, when Keane put in an all-timer of a performance to send United on their way to a treble, despite knowing that he would not get to play in the Champions League final due to suspension.

The pleasantries were exchanged, and Keane eventually told Chiellini that he had been close to signing for Juventus soon after United’s treble in 1999.

“I nearly came to Juventus, I agreed a deal to come in 2000 on a Bosman. The contract was up, so I’d agreed a deal with Juventus and Bayern and a few others, but Gary (Neville) didn’t want me to leave United,” he joked.

Italian former player Giorgio Chiellini brings the trophy ahead the UEFA Euro 2024 final football match between Spain and England at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on July 14, 2024. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)