Sir Alex Ferguson autobiography: Mark Bosnich demands meeting with Ferguson, and says he and Roy Keane were only criticised to boost book sales

The manager had labelled the goalkeeper as a 'terrible professional'

Sir Alex Ferguson watches Mark Bosnich (front) train with Manchester United in 1999 (GETTY IMAGES)

Mark Bosnich has demanded a face-to-face meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson, and has sided with Roy Keane in defending himself against criticism written by Ferguson in his book, My Autobiography.

The Scot launched a scathing attack on the goalkeeper in his book, writing: “Mark Bosnich was a terrible professional. He turned up for training three hours late. He was overweight.”

Unhappy with this criticism, the Australian, who played for Manchester United in two brief spells, between 1989 and 1991, and 1999 to 2001, told talkSPORT today he now wants a meeting with his former manager to air their differences.

“I'm going to tell him straight to his face and I’ll ask him to repeat [his criticism] and then I will tell him exactly what I want to say and you guys can all read about it, like you read his book.

“Let me clear this up. I was at the training ground at 10am for a 1pm or 2pm meeting. Sir Alex knows that. I said hello to him and that was the time he mentioned my wait.

“I might have been a couple of minutes late getting to the dressing room, but I was at the ground hours ahead of time.”

Bosnich added: “The fact remains that I was the only player he signed twice at Manchester United.”

As for Keane, who also hit back at Ferguson while he was doing punditry on ITV on Tuesday night,  Bosnich said he was one of the “best players he played with”, and the manager’s attack was just to boost sales of his book.

“Roy Keane has obviously had his say about Sir Alex’s book. Roy is and always will be one of the best players that I had the pleasure of playing with. What he said about loyalty is right.

“So far as Roy’s character is concerned, although he can upset people easily, it is as solid as they come. But, when you are selling books, it’s important to cause as much conjecture and controversy as possible to drive sales. Everyone knows that.”