GIGGS WORTH £2bn TODAY, SAYS KEANE
ROY KEANE has claimed his former Manchester United team-mate Ryan Giggs would be worth £2billion in today’s ‘mind-boggling’ transfer market as clubs rake in massive fees for ‘average’ players. The Republic of Ireland assistant manager admitted his surprise at some of the figures which have been paid this summer, with Paris Saint-Germain forking out a staggering £198m for Neymar and preparing to invest heavily once again in Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe. However, it is the prices which have been paid for players lower down the food chain which have most surprised 46-year-old Keane. ‘It’s mind-boggling, the figures that are out there — especially for the average players,’ said the former Old Trafford and Celtic midfielder. ‘If ever there was a time to be a professional player it’s now. Average players are going for £35m. My goodness. ‘I don’t really analyse it too much, but that’s the market place at the moment. ‘There aren’t many top players out there. ‘The really big players are going for big money and it’s filtering down now,’ added Keane. ‘When average players are going for £30-40m, it does make you scratch your head. But if the clubs are prepared to pay that, then it’s not the players’ fault.’ Keane, of course, played in Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering United side alongside the likes of Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy, then later with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo — now in Madrid. Asked what the likes of Van Nistelrooy would cost now, Keane replied with a smile: ‘Ruud would certainly be worth in the market now probably a billion.’ David Beckham? ‘A billion.’ Ryan Giggs? ‘Two billion.’ Asked further how much he himself might cost nowadays, Keane answered: ‘£3.75m, I think.’ That, incidentally, was the fee United paid for him when he joined the Red Devils from Nottingham Forest in 1993.