Richard Keys unleashed an incredible Twitter rant at former Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor.
The Twitter assault came after the Talksport commentator called him and others “dinosaurs” for opposing Jesse Lingard’s move to Nottingham Forest.
Keys, who departed Sky Sports in 2011 after being caught on camera making sexist jokes about assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis and other female characters, accused Agbonlahor of being a ‘unprofessional’ player during his playing days.
‘I didn’t realize Gabby Agbonlahor was on the radio,’ he wrote. His broadcasting career is clearly as minor as his playing career.’
‘A Villa staff member described me today as “the most unprofessional he’d ever worked with,” he continued. Gls (sic) 76. Apps 351. ‘Does he still play for Watford?’
Agbonlahor shot back at Keys, citing his dismissal from Sky Sports in 2011 as well as rumors that he had an affair with his daughter’s closest friend. The BeIN Sports host disputes the accusation.
‘Speaking of insignificance…after being fired for sexism and accidentally mixing up your wife with your daughter’s best friend,’ he wrote. ‘I also had no idea they’d allowed you back on the air.’ But, hairy hands, keep using my name to stay relevant.’
The comment was in response to Agbonlahor criticizing Keys and others for criticizing Lingard following his move to Forest last week.
‘I have no problem with it,’ he told talkSPORT (Lingard going to Forest). And I believe that many dinosaurs, particularly the elder age, need to zip it and get on with life.
‘If he wants to do “JLingz,” if he wants to dance, if he wants to go on TikTok, that’s great. Don’t listen to these dinosaurs, Simon Jordans, Richard Keys, and other knuckleheads.’
His comments on talkSPORT occurred after he advised Keys to’shut yer mouth’ in response to a tweet in which he questioned who was advising Lingard.
Keys had posted a photo of Lingard with his moniker, ‘JLingz,’ on the back of his Forest shirt, with the remark, ‘Who is advising this guy?’ Really?’
The veteran host then indicated that the ‘bottom line’ of the criticism of Lingard’s move to Forest was that they will be substantially poorer than West Ham next season, with Keys predicting that they will struggle to win ten games.
‘It’s been fascinating to watch the debate. Lingard would have been better off at West Ham,’ he wrote.
‘Forest will struggle to win 10 games this season, meaning they will be battling for their lives. That is, they will be known as “struggling Forest.” Let’s get together again in May.’
Lingard’s move looks to have drawn a line in the sand between those who believe it is a good career move for a player in his late twenties and those who believe he should have joined a club with more ambition and avoided what some see as an overly-ostentatious transfer reveal.
Simon Jordan, Agbonlahor’s talkSPORT colleague, stepped into the controversy last week when he tweeted ‘this is what £200k a week buys you’ alongside a clown emoji, above Lingard’s statement.
‘I hope JLingz doesn’t Ming zz at Nottingham Forest… Only time shall tell! Is £10 million spent on a player with undeniable potential but little return in the last three years, along with an unhealthy fixation with TikTok, money well spent?’
In response to Jordan, Agbonlahor referred to him as a “bitter owner,” referring to his disastrous tenure as manager of his boyhood club Crystal Palace.