ROY KEANE almost had a Sunderland reunion with Robbie Savage – until he listened to his former Manchester United team-mate's voicemail message.
Keano contemplated bringing the midfielder to Wearside during his time in charge of the Black Cats, whom he left in December 2008.
The reunion would have seen Savage get some much-needed game time, which was sparse under former Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes.
Keane tried to convince the long-locked midfielder to join him at the Stadium of Light with a good old-fashioned phone call, although he ended up changing his mind after hearing his voicemail message.
The Irishman recalled in his autobiography: "I rang Mark Hughes. Robbie [Savage] wasn’t in the Blackburn team and I asked Mark if we could try to arrange a deal.
“Sparky said, ‘Yeah, yeah he’s lost his way here but he could still do a job for you’.
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“Robbie’s legs were going a bit but I thought he might come up to us [at Sunderland] with his long hair, and give us a lift.
"The way [Dwight Yorke] Yorkie had, a big personality in the dressing room.
“Sparky gave me permission to give him a call. So I got Robbie’s mobile number and rang him.
“It went to his voicemail, ‘Hi it’s Robbie – whazzup!’ like the Budweiser ad.
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“I never called him back. I thought: ‘I can’t be f***ing signing that.’"
Keane's revelation eventually came to the attention of Savage, who couldn't quite believe his innocent voicemail message scuppered the transfer.
The 48-year-old tweeted: "Come on Roy whattttsupppppppp!!! Hahahaha."
Keane's snubbing of Savage paved the way for the Welshman to join Derby County, a move he doesn't regret in the slightest.
He said: “Whether or not Roy did try and sign me I chose Derby over Sunderland as they offered me more and I didn’t want to move house.
“But it’s great to know Roy Keane obviously liked me as a player as he was one of (the) best midfielders ever!! #whatssuppppppp.”
Savage spent eight seasons with the Rams before ending his playing career with Stockport County in the 2019-20 season.
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