ROY Keane has claimed he turned down the chance to sign Robbie Savage from Blackburn Rovers when he was Sunderland boss – because he did not like the midfielder’s voicemail.

Keane, writing in his new book, The Second Half, says he was given permission by then Rovers boss Mark Hughes to contact Savage about a potential move to the Stadium of Light.

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The Irishman was unable to get through to the Wales international and he opted against calling him back after he heard the message, based on the famous Budweiser ‘whassup’ advert first aired in 1999, he left on his voicemail.

“I rang Mark Hughes,” said Keane, who managed Sunderland between August 2006 and December 2008.

“Robbie (Savage) wasn’t in the Blackburn team and I asked Mark if we could try to arrange a deal.

“Sparky said, ‘yeah, yeah, he’s lost his way here but he could still do a job for you’.

“Robbie’s legs were going a bit but I thought he might come up to us (at Sunderland), with his long hair, and give us a lift – the way Yorkie (Dwight Yorke) had, a big personality in the dressing room.

“Sparky gave me permission to give him a call. So I got Robbie’s mobile number and rang him.

“It went to his voicemail, ‘hi, it’s Robbie – whazzup!’ like the Budweiser ad.

“I never called him back. I thought, ‘I can’t be signing that’.”

Savage made 100 appearances for Rovers, scoring three goals, after making a £3m move from Birmingham City in January 2005. He left the club to join Derby for £1.5m in January 2008.

Savage has taken to Twitter to respond to former Manchester United captain Keane’s comments.

He tweeted: “Whether or not Roy did try and sign me I chose Derby over Sunderland as they offered me more and I didn’t want to move house!

“But it’s great to know Roy Keane obviously liked me as a player as he was one of best midfielders ever! #whatssuppppppp “I knew of the interest from Sunderland as my agent spoke to them numerous times but informed them I was going to Derby!”