Roy Keane reacted with characteristic scepticism after Rory McIlroy sent signed Masters flags to the Stick to Football podcast panel, including Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott and Ian Wright. The Northern Irish golfer inscribed each flag with a personal message thanking them for their support, prompting excitement among the former footballers.
Keane, who had received a similar gift from McIlroy earlier this year after a previous disagreement, feigned annoyance that the gesture diminished the uniqueness of his own present. 'But that takes away from me getting one with you getting it as well. It's not special then is it?' he said during the episode.
When Scott urged him to 'share the joy', Keane doubled down, questioning the authenticity of the signatures. 'I'm not even sure that's his signature. I guarantee you it's not. The only one he genuinely signed was mine,' he claimed, suggesting McIlroy had delegated the task to an associate.
Asked what he had done with his own flag, Keane admitted with a wry smile that it was 'in one of my cupboards' but promised to get it framed. Carragher joined in the banter, asking if McIlroy had someone signing flags for him, to which Keane replied: 'Of course he has, one of his mates has done that.'
The exchange highlighted Keane's deadpan humour, as he continued to insist that the other panelists' flags were not genuine, despite protests from Wright and Scott. The episode, released on YouTube, has drawn attention to the ongoing light-hearted rivalry between the former Manchester United captain and his fellow pundits.
