Originally Posted by
EalingGreen
Hmmm. What exactly is Tardelli trying to say? That Keane's exit from Inter was nothing to do with him? On the basis that club coaches in Italy have little or none of the say over transfers which their counterparts usually do in England, that would appear very plausible.
Yet the club did not actually sell Keane straightaway; rather he was sent out on loan - something which a coach should have more say over. And if it is any guide (OK, it's probably not!), Keane's wiki entry states: "However, Keane's dream move to Italy soon soured when Lippi was sacked. Lippi's successor, Marco Tardelli, deemed Keane to be surplus to requirements"
My guess is that for whatever reason, Tardelli didn't rate Keane at Inter, so agitated to move him on. But now when he finds the player is his star striker for ROI, he has to finesse that earlier episode, hence the "straight bat".