ROY KEANE believes Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero would be the ideal Italian signing for Manchester United and has also affirmed his desire to stay at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils captain feels the gifted attacker would be a perfect addition to the ranks of the newly-crowned Premiership champions.
The Irish firebrand also admitted his admiration for Internazionale striker Christian Vieri but when questioned about which Italian he would like to see in a United shirt, Del Piero's name tripped off the tongue.
"It would probably be better to see Del Piero, he'd be perfect for us," Keane told Gazzetta dello Sport.
Keane was also quizzed about the speculation surrounding his midfield cohorts David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, who have been repeatedly linked with a departure from Old Trafford.
The United skipper conceded he is in the dark regarding that duo's future but revealed he had no intention of leaving the club.
"I know nothing," he added. "I just know that I will never leave Manchester who are in my heart in England.
"I could only go abroad. In Italy? I'll stay in Manchester okay?"
Keane also hailed the merits of Juventus coach Marcello Lippi, who he rates extremely highly and placed him behind only his own boss Sir Alex Ferguson, in the managerial pecking order.
He continued: "Lippi is a really prepared and intelligent coach, in addition to Fabio Capello, and I consider him the best in the world after Alex Ferguson."
After witnessing his own Champions League dream blown to smithereens by Real Madrid in the quarter finals, Keane admitted he would like to see the Spanish titans in the final at Old Trafford.
"As for the final, I'd probably prefer to see the spectacle of Real in Manchester but it's true in England there are many supporters of Italian teams."