Roy Keane defends Gary Neville amid David Luiz controversy
Roy Keane has defended Gary Neville after his former Manchester United teammate received an unhappy message from David Luiz following critical comments made back in 2011, reports BritPanorama.
During that season, Neville, who was working for Sky, expressed his discontent over Luiz’s performance after Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea, claiming the centre-back played as though he were “being controlled by a nine-year-old on a PlayStation.”
On a recent episode of The Overlap, Neville shared his regret about the remark, acknowledging the importance of being mindful of the language used: “How we say things, we have to change how we do it [regarding] the responsibility of words and what damage they can do,” he said.
He recalled that Luiz communicated with him years later while playing for Chelsea, following another pointed critique. “He actually direct messaged me four or five years later,” Neville noted. “I thought, he’s a human being, that’s stuck with him.”
Keane has since expressed support for Neville, indicating that pundits can sometimes overstep their bounds. He admitted to apologising to Harry Maguire for being overly critical in the past, suggesting, “But pundits are entitled to make a mistake… we can’t become robots either.” Keane further remarked on the need for emotional engagement during matches, highlighting the complexities of providing analysis.
David Luiz, who joined the Premier League in January 2011 from Benfica, faced challenges at Chelsea initially, but eventually thrived, winning multiple trophies, including the Champions League in 2012. His journey through football has seen him leave for Paris Saint-Germain, return to Chelsea, and now play for clubs including Arsenal and Flamengo, cementing his status as a notable figure in the sport.
Ultimately, this exchange underscores the delicate balance that pundits must maintain between honest criticism and recognition of the human element in football, illustrating how the sport’s public discourse can shape players’ experiences long after the final whistle.
