Roy Keane says Ryan Giggs would cost £2billion today

August 30, 2017
Posted by Steven Tan | Source from Daniel Zeqiri, Telegraph
Roy Keane has lampooned the 'mind-boggling' fees of the transfer market, suggesting former teammate Ryan Giggs would be worth '£2 billion' at today's prices. 
 
Though Neymar's world record move to Paris Saint Germain was viewed as a watershed moment, it is the cost of 'average' players that troubles the former Manchester United captain - who claimed former teammates Ruud Van Nistelrooy and David Beckham would also be worth £1 billion. 
 
Transfers that have raised eye-brows this summer include Kyle Walker's £50 million switch to Manchester City, Gylfi Sigurdsson joining Everton from Swansea for £45 million and Swansea spending £16 million on midfielder Sam Clucas.
 
Keane said: 'It's mind-boggling, the figures that are out there - especially for the average players. If ever there was a time to be a professional player it's now. Average players are going for £35 million. 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.
 
Gylfi Sigurdsson's big-money move caused plenty of consternation CREDIT: GETTYIMAGES
 
'When average players are going for £30-40 million, it does make you scratch your head, but if the clubs are prepared to pay that, then it's not the players' fault.'
 
He added:  "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, he answered modestly: "£3.75million, I think." That was how much United paid Nottingham Forest to secure his services in 1993. 
 
The Republic of Ireland assistant manager was speaking before their World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Serbia. 
 
Martin O'Neill's assistant has not managed since leaving Ipswich Town in 2011 but still has ambitions to go it alone in the future.
 
Keane said: "I've got a lot of strengths, I would like to think, as a footballing person, but what I can't do is see into the future - which might be a good thing.
 
"This idea of what might happen to me in the future is irrelevant. I have just answered a question earlier, 'Are you enjoying the role here?'. I am very happy and the whole focus is on the game on Saturday.
 
"Whatever happens next week, next year, tomorrow, it doesn't really matter."
 
  • Related keywords: Ryan Giggs, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane, Neymar, Kyle Walker, Gylfi Sigurdsson, David Beckham