Jon Walters says that if he does tell the full story of his football career, he will have to "revisit places" which he doesn't "particularly want to go back to".
Walters appeared on Talksport this week and was asked about his relationship with Roy Keane.
During the interview with Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent, a clip from a 2019 Off The Ball event featuring Roy Keane was played.
Keane had called Walters a "bluffer" and referenced an appearance on The Late Late Show by the former Ireland international four months earlier. Walters had spoken about losing his mother when he was 11, the death of his brother, aged 35, in 2018, his wife having a miscarriage a day after his sibling's passing and also finding out that his daughter had been diagnosed with scoliosis.
"He does all the circuit stuff, goes on the TV, [talks about] how harshly he was treated by me," said Keane.
"He's crying on the TV, family situation. Do me a favour."
Walters said on Thursday that the "truth will come out" about his relationship with Keane. The former Ireland and Manchester United midfielder was Walters's manager at Ipswich. They also worked together when Keane was Ireland assistant manager under Martin O'Neill.
14 October 2014; Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane issues instructions to Jon Walters, 19, and David Meyler during the first half. UEFA EURO 2016 Championship Qualifer, Group D, Germany v Republic of Ireland, Veltins Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
"This video of Roy resurfaces regularly and whilst on Talksport I was asked about it again, so let me address it once here on X," Walters posted to social media on Friday.
"The next time I address it will be when it’s written down and it will form a part of a small chapter in an extensive book.
"To give context to the Off The Ball clip, this was on the back of an emotional interview I did on The Late Late show with Ryan Tubridy when I spoke of some personal issues. I discussed my brother who had recently passed and other family issues which I won’t go into right now but were just as poignant.
"I am an individual who stands up for what I believe is right, but there are others who struggle when people don't capitulate to them. The issue for those who make things up is ensuring there's no evidence to the contrary, and in this case, there is.
"Make no mistake, when Roy crossed the line at Ipswich, I put him firmly back in his place and I was fully justified with my response. Many years later when he regurgitated his thoughts whilst we were on international duty with Ireland, history repeated itself.
"There’s a saying, if you’re going to talk the talk..."
15 June 2016; Jon Walters, second from left, of Republic of Ireland, with, from left, coach Steve Guppy, equipment officer Mick Lawlor and assistant manager Roy Keane during squad training at Versailles in Paris, France. Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile
During that interview with Off The Ball, Keane said that Walters "talks a good game" and added, "Imagine if he had a good CV. Imagine if he won a trophy!"
"When it comes to measuring a successful life based on awards and medals," Walters continued, "I don’t require material possessions to demonstrate what I’ve achieved in life. I feel sorry for those who judge their worth and believe that they are superior to everyone else based on these things.
"I’ve been able to live a dream and have a career at the very pinnacle of football, doing what 99.99% of the population will never get the chance to do. I have got a beautiful wife and amazing children who are my greatest achievement bar none.
"As to all the other things that have happened in my career that nobody knows about, I can guarantee no player has trodden the same path. If and when I share my story, I’ll have to revisit places that I don’t particularly want to go back to.
"Whilst this will shock most, I do believe it would be a valuable source of help to others."
This video of Roy resurfaces regularly and whilst on Talksport I was asked about it again, so let me address it once here on X. The next time I address it will be when it’s written down and it will form a part of a small chapter in an extensive book.
To give context to the Off… pic.twitter.com/3AgNFAP64P
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 5, 2024
