Poor bloke though. Must surely be struggling mentally.
I actually feel bad for Phil.
And before anyone of you says "he's rich". Just shut up. Money doesn't make you happy in the long term, it only makes the pursuit of happiness a lot easier. If money is a factor in which you decide you can treat people like garbage then take along look in the mirror and see what true trash look like.
I always felt quite awful about this segment from 2019
"Phil Jones 'rejected Manchester United testimonial' when he signed new deal as he feared,
'Apart from my mum and dad, who would turn up?'"
That's not saying something about Phil Jones. That's saying something about the fans of Manchester United. About how fickle and shitty a lot of us can apparently be.
Phil has spent 10 years at Manchester Untited. He's one of the last remaining players from the reign of Sir Alex along with DDG. Jones was also a key cog in the 17/18 defense when we took 2nd. The best finish in the Prem since SAF retired. He has 27 international caps for England and 165 for Manchester United. Jones has been part of a LOT of highs of this club in the past decade, and of course a lot of downs. He's not the best player that ever put on the jersey, but he has always remained professional during his years here.
Roy Keane wrote in his autobiography:
"But I think it's the tradition that makes it such a big day. You're thanking the fans and they're thanking you. It was a chance for me to say goodbye to the United fans - a huge incentive for me."
When the club offered the new deal the testimonial is part of the standard deal as a reward for having been at the club for 10 years. All players who play for a decade is offered one. It's a reward for long service.
Things like this makes me reflect on how people are quick to say
"family" about Manchester United. How this club is different, the comraderie is ingrained in the foundations of the bedrock of Old Trafford. Fickle words that ring hollow when so many are willing to make a player of the club whose only crime is not being that great of a player. There's been no off-pitch antics, no scandals or drama. Just a long serving player with some funky face antics.
It makes me sad because the reason Phil must have come to the conclusion that he does not want what Roy Keane describes as a
chance to say gooodbye to the United fans is quite simply because he knows what we the fans say about him.
We, or everyone who has spent some of their time online finding pleasure in talking down a player at length for a long time has achieved what you dreamt of: Discouraged one of our very own from the chance to say goodybe to the fans after serving the club for a decade.
Good job. Best fans in the world. Truly.