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Keane. “Luckily, today, I still speak to him a lot. He’s a great person to lean on.
“He didn’t have to do that when I was younger, but he gravitated to me. Maybe he could see some potential in me.”
Keane never got the chance to emulate Ferdinand at United, leaving in 2015 – a year later than his hero – after finding his first-team opportunities limited.
Return
He joined Burnley, helping the Clarets reach the Premier League before a fine debut season in the top flight earned him two England caps.
There was the chance to return to United while Liverpool were also interested, but it was Everton who landed him last month.
Keane admitted working with former Barcelona and Holland icon Ronald Koeman lured him to Goodison Park.
“I’m already learning from him,” said Keane, who wants to become a ball-playing centreback like Koeman and Ferdinand. Another reason for joining the Toffees was the ambition shown by the club since Farhad Moshiri bought into it 18 months ago.
Keane was part of the £150m investment in the squad this summer with Gylfi Sigurdsson, who could make his debut against City, the latest recruit.
Tonight’s game at the Etihad, where Everton haven’t won since 2010, will show if they really can match the big boys this season.
“They have a lot of good players but so have we,” said Keane. “The way we have recruited, there is no reason why we can’t give them a really tough game and go there to win.
“Going up against Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero is exciting for a defender. If you keep them quiet it certainly gives you a buzz. For a defender that’s just as good as scoring a goal.”
England boss Gareth Southgate was in the stand as Keane scored his first goal for Everton in their 2-0 win over Hajduk Split in the Europa League play-off first leg on Thursday.
But more importantly for the defender, it was the Toffees’ fourth clean sheet of the season.
Another one tonight would certainly boost his chances of making the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia when Southgate announces it on Thursday.