Former Blackburn Rovers center-back Phil Jones has finally revealed the exact reason he chose to sign for Manchester United.
Prior to signing for the Red Devils, Jones was reportedly targeted by Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Jones is widely viewed as the heir apparent to Chelsea FC defender John Terry.
The 19-year-old told the Daily Telegraph that the personal touch at Old Trafford helped him choose United over the likes of Spurs, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
“It was brilliant when I heard of United’s interest, an incredible feeling. The whole experience – speaking to the manager on the phone, meeting him in person, going through the whole process of signing – was fantastic.
“Lots of clubs showed an interest in me, but United just felt right: the whole club, the set-up. It wasn’t the fact that it was United, it was that I walked in here and met people, the staff and physios etc, and it just felt right.
“At Blackburn, when I knew there was interest from bigger clubs, I said to myself that if it [a move] happens then it has to feel right, and this felt right.”
Jones also pointed out that he joined United knowing that he would not receive as much playing time in 2011-12 as he did with Blackburn last season.
“I wanted to come here and play. I didn’t want to come from playing every week at Blackburn to becoming a bit-part player at United, but I knew I probably had to do that at the start.
“I wanted to come to United because I felt that the club was right for me, so if I had to wait, I was prepared for it.”
But due to United’s many injuries, Jones got his chance early on and has not disappointed. In fact, the young central defender has established himself as one of Fergie’s most consistent performers at the back.
Jones has been so good that Sir Bobby Charlton has compared the 19-year-old to Duncan Edwards.
“It’s brilliant for me to even be considered as being a player who could become as good as Duncan Edwards was.
“It is flattering and, for young lads like myself and my team-mates to be compared to great young players of the past, it is an amazing feeling. People have told me about Duncan, facts and figures about him, but I obviously know what he means to this club.
“When you come into training in the morning, knowing that people are talking about you in the same breath as players of the Busby era, it is fantastic, but I can’t let it affect me. I have to play my own game and continue to do what I have been doing so far.”
Edwards was killed in the infamous Munich air disaster of 1958 at the age of 21. By that time, Edwards was already a star at Manchester United. After making his club debut at 17, Edwards went on to play in 151 league games, scoring 20 goals. He was also capped 18 times by the England senior team, tallying 5 goals.
If Phil Jones continues to develop his talent and improve his game, he has a chance to be even better than Edwards. That is great news for United supporters, and no so good news for the rest of the English Premier League.
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