Kalvin Phillips has revealed that he turned down Manchester United this summer to join the club’s cross town rivals Manchester City due to his love for Leeds.
The England midfielder joined the Citizens in a 45 million pounds deal after deciding that the bitter rivalry between the two Uniteds made following in the footsteps of Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand, and Alan Smith by moving from Elland Road to Old Trafford impossible.
“Going to United? No, there was never any chance of me going there. You know my loyalty to Leeds. My family as well – they’re all Leeds fans. I was honoured that United wanted me, such a big team and one of the biggest teams in the world.
“But no, I had to stay loyal to Leeds and choose to go to the other side of Manchester. It’s just the way I am, the way I think and the way I’ll always be. I want to be loyal to the people who’ve given me the biggest opportunity in the world. Leeds were the first team to sign me, I made sure that was one of the main things I’d do,”
he was quoted as saying by Mirror.
Leeds supporters have never forgiven any player who crossed the Pennines to wear the red shirt of their archrivals. In the 1970s, Elland Road fans vilified Joe Jordan and Gordon McQueen. And in the Premier League era, Cantona, Ferdinand, and Smith have all felt the same wrath.
However, there is a growing Yorkshire contingent at the Etihad, with Phillips joining England teammates Sheffield-born Kyle Walker and Barnsley-born John Stones. Erling Haaland, City’s new striker, was born in Leeds while his father Alfie was a player for the club.
“It’s been nice to see Erling and speak to him about Leeds and where I’m from and where he was born. He’s a big fan of Leeds, so he tells me. But I don’t know if he’s more Leeds than City though,”
Phillips added.
The 26-year-old was City’s second major summer signing, following the early arrival of Haaland from Borussia Dortmund. He will be hoping to contribute significantly to Pep Guardiola’s title-winning squad and help them achieve even greater success.
