Keane said he spent several days away from Qatar after his “tolerance levels” began to drop. Asked by Micah Richards whether he had enjoyed the tournament, the former Manchester United captain described it as “OK”, while noting that he still attended one or two matches as a fan.
Gary Neville, his former United team-mate, then reminded him that he had gone home for four or five days. The exchange was less a revelation than a perfect example of Keane’s approach: direct, dry and entirely unwilling to soften the edges.
When Richards asked which pundits had annoyed him, Keane refused to name them, replying: “How long have we got? Fellow pundits. I had a break.” It was a joke, but also a clear statement of intent.
Neville knows the signs better than most. He compared watching Keane’s mood build to an “I’m a Celebrity” challenge, saying it was obvious when somebody needed to get away from him. Keane answered that Neville was “very cruel”.
Their comfort with that kind of exchange is central to Keane’s appeal. He can turn irritation into entertainment without losing the authority that comes from an elite playing career.
Keane’s public persona was formed long before the television studio. His fallout with Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy before the 2002 World Cup remains one of football’s most famous dressing-room disputes.
Since moving into punditry, he has brought the same uncompromising standards to his assessments of players, managers and teams. He is not always agreeable, but he is rarely forgettable.
With Keane again part of a World Cup panel in North America this summer, the next storyline will be whether his fellow pundits can keep him entertained - and at the desk.