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Roy Keane has revealed how close he came to joining Everton – and expressed regret at not making a move that could have extended his playing career.

The Blues were one of four options available for the midfielder when Sir Alex Ferguson called time on his Manchester United career towards the end of 2005.

Premier League rivals Bolton Wanderers, Spanish giants Real Madrid and Scottish side Celtic were also pursuing the firebrand Irishman.

Keane, then 34, was impressed by his meeting with then Blues boss David Moyes but ultimately found the lure of boyhood club Celtic too strong to resist.

“Real Madrid offered me a year and a half deal,” said Keane. “Everton, on my doorstep, wanted me to go to them.

“I met their manager, David Moyes, and I was impressed by what he said. Bolton – also on my doorstep; I met Sam Allardyce too. But I went to Celtic.”

Keane added: “Why didn’t I go to Everton? I would have regretted not going to Celtic, and I couldn’t go to both.

“But Everton would have been good. I spoke to Phil Neville, who’d moved there earlier in the season.

“I knew that there were good fitness people there who could have helped me.

“I liked David Moyes, their manager. The chairman, Bill Kenwright, was very good with Michael in the negotiations. They offered me a lot more than Celtic were paying me.

“But I think I might have found it hard playing for another English team. Which is stupid, I suppose, because it’s business.

“Everton might have given me another lease of life. I might have had two or three more years there.

“The system they played would have suited me. I would have been a proper sitting midfielder.

“(But) It doesn’t keep me awake at night.”

Roy Keane in pictures:

Keane had declared an intention to play for Celtic earlier in his career, but admits there was an unusual motive behind his decision to spurn Everton’s advances.

“When a club is interested in you, the manager generally sells it to you: ‘Listen, we’d love to have you here’,” said the current Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland assistant manager.

“But I met Gordon Strachan, the Celtic manager, in London – I met him in the majority shareholder Dermot Desmond’s house – and Gordon told me, ‘I’m not really too worried if you sign for us or not. We’re okay without you.’

“So I said to myself, ‘F--- him, I’m signing.’

“I think it was one of the reasons I signed for them – to prove Gordon wrong.”

Keane gained a further admiration for Moyes when, as manager, his Sunderland side were thrashed by Everton 7-1 at Goodison in November 2007.

“Nothing like it had happened to me before,” said Keane, writing in his latest autobiography ‘The Second Half’. “Everton slaughtered us.

“David Moyes was very good after the match. There was no small talk. It was just me and him.

“I think he brought me to a private room; he must have known I’d be in a bad way. He was saying ‘stick at it’. He showed real humanity towards me that day.

“I think I would have liked working under David Moyes, and I might have had that opportunity if I’d signed for Everton after I left United. It’s a gut feeling.”

Keane praises Everton's Irish contingent

Roy Keane has praised Everton’s strong Irish presence – and believes the Blues can reach the Champions League.

Keane admits he was delighted when earlier this year Aiden McGeady joined compatriots James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman and Darron Gibson at the club.

And the Republic of Ireland assistant boss is convinced the quartet are in the right place to further their international careers.

“Everton’s a top club,” said Keane. “The day Aiden McGeady signed for them from Spartak Moscow, I was thinking ‘Great move for you, Aiden. Another Irish lad going to Everton – brilliant.’

“It’s good for Ireland. He’s go other Irish lads around him and they’ve got a good manager.

“James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman have been doing really well at Everton.

“They can get into the Champions League in the next year or two, which can only be good for Ireland.

“Because the problem for Ireland is that most of the lads aren’t playing at the top level.”