Roy Keane spotted at World Championships as snooker star reveals terrifying encounter with Man Utd legend at Crucible

FORMER world champion snooker star Neil Robertson revealed his crippling nerves playing in front of Roy Keane after the Manchester United legend was spotted at the Crucible.

Ireland icon Keane, 52, was in the crowd for the Friday evening session in Sheffield.

Roy Keane was in attendance at the Crucible on Friday nightGetty

Neil Robertson has revealed just how nervous Keane’s presence made himGetty

Known as a keen snooker fan, he previously watched Aussie Robertson seven years ago – a memory that the snooker star has never forgotten.

Speaking on BBC Sport, he said: “Around 2016 [2017] he was watching my match with Marco Fu.

“I remember coming down and glancing to my right and I was like ‘Oh my goodness, that looks like Roy Keane. Is that Roy Keane?’ Because he had this great big beard at the time. It was a bit of a disguise

“I remember walking round the table and I’d see him and he’d be looking at me, looking at the table and I’d be so nervous.

“I was more nervous than playing the match itself – the fact I was in his presence.

“We don’t have that [set-up] anymore but it was fantastic to see and I definitely got my picture with him.”

The match in question is believed to be Robertson’s second round match against Fu in 2017.

And 2010 champion Robertson ended up losing 13-11 as he was dumped out of the world championships.

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Keane was spotted at the world championship final last year between Luca Brecel and Mark Selby.

But his history with snooker goes beyond watching.

Famously, he was convinced to sign for Manchester United over a game of snooker with Sir Alex Ferguson.

The former Nottingham Forest star was in talks with Blackburn Rovers, which Fergie had found out about.

So, the legendary manager asked Keane to meet him for a game.

“From that moment, I was never going to sign for any other club,” Keane revealed in his autobiography.