Also mentions how he was close to joining to Juve
Sunderland boss Roy Keane has launched a scathing attack on modern-day footballers claiming they are 'weak' and are dictated by their wives and girlfriends.
The no-nonsense Irishman claims he has missed out on some players this summer because their partners did not want to move to Wearside.
Keane is dismayed at the attitude of players in the modern era and he believes they have not got their priorities right.
Dismayed
"Priorities have changed in footballers and they're being dictated to by their wives and girlfriends - there's no getting away from that," blasted Keane.
"This idea of the women running the show concerns me and worries me but it shouldn't because the players we're talking about are soft.
"I could name three or four big players now and clearly their wives are running their lives. They're stood there doing these photo shoots and they might say 'I'm not comfortable doing it'. Well, don't do it then.
"They're getting dragged into it because of their partners. These so-called big stars, the ones people are supposed to be looking up to, they're weak, they're soft.
"We had a player this summer who didn't even ring us back because his wife wanted to move to London; he didn't even have the courtesy to pick the phone up to us and shopping was mentioned.
"I can understand the attraction of London if you go to Arsenal, Chelsea, maybe Spurs, but there are players just going there because it's London and to me that's wrong, clubs with half the crowds and less attention. It's not a football move, it's a lifestyle move, and they're the type you don't want at your club anyway. It tells me the player is weak and his wife runs his life."
Priorities
The Manchester United legend admitted he came close to joining Juventus towards the end of his career and even then those people trying to persuade him to move tried to use the glamour of Italy to convince him.
Keane said: "You have to sign for a club for football reasons. A couple of years ago I nearly went to Juventus and people spoke to me about Turin saying it's this and it's that and that Milan would be nicer, and I said I'm not going for the bloody shops, I'm going because it's Juventus.
"Football must be your priority. You don't need to live in London or Manchester to be happy; you don't need to be surrounded by expensive shops or fancy cafes. What's your priority - your wife and her shopping or your football? Or money?
"If a player doesn't want to come to Sunderland because his wife wants to go shopping in London it's a sad state of affairs."
Sunderland boss Roy Keane has launched a scathing attack on modern-day footballers claiming they are 'weak' and are dictated by their wives and girlfriends.
The no-nonsense Irishman claims he has missed out on some players this summer because their partners did not want to move to Wearside.
Keane is dismayed at the attitude of players in the modern era and he believes they have not got their priorities right.
Dismayed
"Priorities have changed in footballers and they're being dictated to by their wives and girlfriends - there's no getting away from that," blasted Keane.
"This idea of the women running the show concerns me and worries me but it shouldn't because the players we're talking about are soft.
"I could name three or four big players now and clearly their wives are running their lives. They're stood there doing these photo shoots and they might say 'I'm not comfortable doing it'. Well, don't do it then.
"They're getting dragged into it because of their partners. These so-called big stars, the ones people are supposed to be looking up to, they're weak, they're soft.
"We had a player this summer who didn't even ring us back because his wife wanted to move to London; he didn't even have the courtesy to pick the phone up to us and shopping was mentioned.
"I can understand the attraction of London if you go to Arsenal, Chelsea, maybe Spurs, but there are players just going there because it's London and to me that's wrong, clubs with half the crowds and less attention. It's not a football move, it's a lifestyle move, and they're the type you don't want at your club anyway. It tells me the player is weak and his wife runs his life."
Priorities
The Manchester United legend admitted he came close to joining Juventus towards the end of his career and even then those people trying to persuade him to move tried to use the glamour of Italy to convince him.
Keane said: "You have to sign for a club for football reasons. A couple of years ago I nearly went to Juventus and people spoke to me about Turin saying it's this and it's that and that Milan would be nicer, and I said I'm not going for the bloody shops, I'm going because it's Juventus.
"Football must be your priority. You don't need to live in London or Manchester to be happy; you don't need to be surrounded by expensive shops or fancy cafes. What's your priority - your wife and her shopping or your football? Or money?
"If a player doesn't want to come to Sunderland because his wife wants to go shopping in London it's a sad state of affairs."
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