Roy Keane and Gary Neville get into heated Cristiano Ronaldo debate on Sky Sports, it was box office

Roy Keane and Gary Neville got into a heated debate about Cristiano Ronaldo after Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Ronaldo was left out of the travelling squad and forced to train alone after refusing to come on as a substitute against Spurs on Wednesday.

Keane began Sky Sports' coverage by passionately defending his former teammate and after the game, he and Neville were both at opposite ends of the argument.

Both got very animated when making their points, even interrupting one another. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was a spectator for the majority of the discussion but even he got involved in an absolutely box office post-match segment.

Neville played with Ronaldo for many years but believes it's in the best interest for all parties that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner moves on in January.

"There aren't many Manchester United fans who would now have Ronaldo in their starting eleven," Neville stated.

"They are better without him - they score more goals without him and they win more points without him. Manchester United are a better team without him."

Keane was not having any of it, however and still believes Ronaldo, United's top goalscorer last season, still has a part to play at the age of 37.

"You keep going on about how much better United are without Ronaldo," Keane responded.

"Look at the start of the season when he wasn't involved, look at the Man City game, he would have scored a goal today."

Keane had mate the point that players "had done worse things" and pointed at Paul Scholes refusing to play and Rio Ferdinand missing a drug test during his early years at Old Trafford.

In terms of the actual football, Chelsea were leading 1-0 late on courtesy of a Jorginho penalty, awarded after a rugby tackle foul from Scott McTominay on Armando Broja.

But Casemiro snatched a 94th minute equaliser for the visitors with a header that Kepa Arrizabalaga couldn't keep out to deny Chelsea a first Premier League victory over United in five years.

Featured Image Credit: Image: Sky Sports

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Gary Neville, Roy Keane

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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