Phil Jones has written a heartfelt letter to Manchester United fans after it was confirmed that heβd be leaving the club next month.
The former England international has spent 12 years at Old Trafford after signing from boyhood club Blackburn Rovers as a teenager. Legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson once predicted that Jones couldβve gone on to become Unitedβs βbest ever player,β but injury quickly ravaged his career and heβs made just six Premier League appearances in the last four seasons.
After the Red Devils announced that the 31-year-old defender would be exiting at the end of his contract in June, Jones took to social media β a platform which heβs rarely used after hoards of abuse down the years β to address supporters and wish manager Erik ten Hag, his staff and soon-to-be former team-mates the best of luck, also thanking the clubβs medical team and his beloved family.
βI thought about how best to present my words to everyone and felt that I wanted to talk direct to the fans who have supported me throughout my time at Manchester United,β he began. βItβs always tough to leave a club. I did so already with Blackburn Rovers, all those years ago aged only 19, but I could never imagine what was to follow.
βMy time at United has been nothing short of incredible. When I decided to leave Blackburn, I always wanted to prove myself further. Iβd represented my boyhood club, and lived a dream, but I was desperate to show everyone what I could do at the highest level. I had this hunger inside me, I was desperate to continue that at a club that could challenge for everything. I had offers from a few places, but I was waiting and waiting for the call from United.
βOne day, on holiday, the phone rang and it was Sir Alex. I left my holiday that day; I couldnβt wait to meet him. I couldnβt wait to sign and, most of all, I couldnβt wait to get started. There was only one club where I wanted to continue my journey in the game. To wear this shirt just once, to wear this badge and represent everyone associated with it, was an honour.
βI wish I could have played more. I wish I could have given more to the many squads I played alongside. I will say, from the bottom of my heart, I did everything I could. I did everything the medical team asked of me. I never left a stone unturned in the pursuit of living my dream and having the opportunity to represent Manchester United on the pitch.
βI spent some difficult days away from my family, rehabilitating and recovering away from everyone, recuperating away from the training pitch, which I was desperate to get back to. Iβve said before that I found it hard to even speak to my team-mates because I was hurt that I couldnβt help them. I was hurt that my family couldnβt see me on matchdays, and you feel like youβre letting people down.
βSometimes, in life, things happen that we donβt like, but we have to learn to accept it and be at peace in our minds that we did everything we could to overcome the challenges. In your career, and life, thatβs all we can really do.
βThe road can be rocky and throw you off track. Itβs about getting up from setbacks and keeping going. This is a lesson Iβll push into my next challenges, for whatever lies ahead. I lived a dream at the biggest club in the world. I played for England in major tournaments. At United, I won trophies, most notably the Premier League under Sir Alex, in his final season.
