Manchester United outcast Ruud van Nistelrooy feels betrayed by his manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
That is the opinion of van Nistelrooy's close friend, former Dutch international Wim van Hanegem, who also confirmed that his compatriot was an ally of ex-Red Devil Roy Keane.
Van Hanegem claims van Nistelrooy was an outspoken critic of Ferguson's decision to dispense with Keane and has now paid the price for his dissent.
Since being dropped for the Carling Cup final, the former PSV Eindhoven star has found himself marginalised at Old Trafford and van Hanegem is adamant the turn of events was brought about by Keane's departure to Celtic.
"The departure of Roy Keane had a massive impact on Ruud," van Hanegem told the Sunday Mirror.
"In the dressing room Ruud openly sided with Keane when Ferguson decided to separate the player from the club.
"Because of Ruud's passion and determination he would not keep his mouth shut.
"Ruud can go far, sometimes too far and that has worked against him at United."
It is all a far cry from when Ferguson first courted van Nistelrooy and developed a strong rapport with the player who struggled with injury before making a switch to The Premiership.
But van Hanegem has now questioned the motives of the Scot.
"Ruud was completely overwhelmed by Sir Alex when he first got to know him. When Ruud got injured the first time he was going to move from PSV Eindhoven to United, Ferguson kept in touch with him all the time," added van Hanegem.
"But now Ruud has come to realise, I hope, that Ferguson's caring had nothing to do with a human touch. It was only because Ruud was a world-class striker and Ferguson was desperate to get him.
"Now Ruud has found out the hard way. He has also realised that Ferguson has a funny way of ditching his biggest stars. Ruud has seen what happened to David Beckham, Jaap Stam and Roy Keane."
That is the opinion of van Nistelrooy's close friend, former Dutch international Wim van Hanegem, who also confirmed that his compatriot was an ally of ex-Red Devil Roy Keane.
Van Hanegem claims van Nistelrooy was an outspoken critic of Ferguson's decision to dispense with Keane and has now paid the price for his dissent.
Since being dropped for the Carling Cup final, the former PSV Eindhoven star has found himself marginalised at Old Trafford and van Hanegem is adamant the turn of events was brought about by Keane's departure to Celtic.
"The departure of Roy Keane had a massive impact on Ruud," van Hanegem told the Sunday Mirror.
"In the dressing room Ruud openly sided with Keane when Ferguson decided to separate the player from the club.
"Because of Ruud's passion and determination he would not keep his mouth shut.
"Ruud can go far, sometimes too far and that has worked against him at United."
It is all a far cry from when Ferguson first courted van Nistelrooy and developed a strong rapport with the player who struggled with injury before making a switch to The Premiership.
But van Hanegem has now questioned the motives of the Scot.
"Ruud was completely overwhelmed by Sir Alex when he first got to know him. When Ruud got injured the first time he was going to move from PSV Eindhoven to United, Ferguson kept in touch with him all the time," added van Hanegem.
"But now Ruud has come to realise, I hope, that Ferguson's caring had nothing to do with a human touch. It was only because Ruud was a world-class striker and Ferguson was desperate to get him.
"Now Ruud has found out the hard way. He has also realised that Ferguson has a funny way of ditching his biggest stars. Ruud has seen what happened to David Beckham, Jaap Stam and Roy Keane."
