Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer has labelled Manchester United legend Roy Keane a "clown" as the bitter feud between the pair continues.
McAteer and Keane played alongside one another during their time with the Republic of Ireland but endured a frosty relationship despite their shared time on the field. Speaking last week, Keane insisted the pair had never been friends despite their loyalties to their country.
Reviewing the red cards he received during his career with Manchester United on the Overlap podcast last week, Keane insisted an elbow on McAteer during a 1-1 draw with Sunderland in 2002 was "deserved".
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That prompted McAteer, who played for Liverpool between 1995 and 1999, to take a bite back at his fellow pundit via social media.
"Love it," wrote McAteer on X, replying to Keane's comments. "Players shouting their mouths off!!! Funny you can’t shut the clown up now. And no we weren’t team-mates cause he never showed up and when he did he went home!!!! Please!!!!! Bore off."
The pair were part of the Republic of Ireland squad that was selected for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Infamously Keane left the squad before the tournament kicked off after a bust-up with manager Mick McCarthy at a training camp in Saipan.
Speaking on beIN Sports on Saturday, McAteer defended his actions in winding-up Keane on that particular afternoon back in 2002 and insisted all of the top athletes do their "homework" and claimed he knew "what buttons to press" during that altercation with Keane 21 years ago.
McAteer said: "It was cheap. He's better than that. He elbowed me on the side of the head as he walked past me. The world saw him elbow me."
He added: "I'd rather him come in here and let bygones be bygones or we'll get in the ring for a million pounds each and fight it out. Eddie Hearn, get him on the phone! But Roy, come on, you're better than that, and I'll promise to stop reacting."
