Keane saw his future early

Roy Keane was convinced his footballing future lay away from Manchester United up to last Sunday before finally giving the thumbs-up to United's offer of a four-year £50,000-a-week deal.

Keane, whose solicitor Michael Kennedy brokered the deal which smashed the club's pay structure, said yesterday: "Up to last week I felt I would be leaving but over the weekend the talks went very well and I signed on the dotted line yesterday.

"On Sunday we were quite a bit apart regarding my contract and I felt I had to look at my options, which were abroad. I didn't feel I could go to another English club.

"But on Sunday night Michael rang me and we discussed the contract over the phone and I felt that was probably within what I was looking for.

"In the next few days there were a few minor points to be sorted out but on Sunday night I told Michael it was right.

"Up to last week I felt that we couldn't agree but things moved at the weekend and then again yesterday. With it getting close to January 1st they were probably twitching a bit.

"I had to look at my options because I felt United weren't coming up with the right contract, but sometimes clubs differ to your opinion of what you think you're worth to the club."

"I was in a very good position with a free transfer at the end of the season - it's great for any player. I was flattered by the interest from the top clubs in Europe - I was embarrassed, to be honest.

"With me being captain and at a big club like United it was highlighted and the fans would have probably felt it was a tragedy if I'd left on a free transfer."

Martin Edwards, the Manchester United chairman, yesterday revealed how Keane indicated to the club that he was prepared to re-open talks on his future early - after saying negotiations were over until the season's end.

"He indicated to us a couple of weeks ago that he was prepared to talk before he was allowed to talk to other clubs (under the Bosman ruling) and we were allowed to put it to bed very quickly," said Edwards.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo Amoruso yesterday admitted making racist remarks to Borussia Dortmund's Nigerian striker Victor Ikpeba during Wednesday's UEFA Cup tie in Germany. Amoruso watched a video replay along with his manager Dick Advocaat and the club's director-secretary Campbell Ogilvie. They obviously came to the same conclusion as TV viewers that, in a heated exchange during a torrid match, the Italian had called his opponent "a black bastard".

"I was involved in an incident with Ikpeba and words were exchanged between us," Amoruso said. "However, in a highly charged match it is not unusual for tempers to boil over and I do not remember making the remarks. But on this evidence, I cannot dispute the fact that I made the remarks." Amoruso denied he was a racist, a view accepted by Ikpeba.