New Manchester City signing Kalvin Phillips has, on Thursday, opened up once more on his decision to reject neighbours Man United.
England international Phillips, of course, brought to an end a lengthy saga surrounding his future earlier this month, in closing the iconic Leeds United chapter of his career to put pen to paper on terms at the Etihad.
The deep-lying midfielder has committed to a deal with Pep Guardiola’s troops through the summer of 2028, to provide competition and cover for Spanish international Rodri.
Had another of the Premier League’s biggest clubs had their way, though, then Phillips could well have been lining out on the other half of Manchester upon the new campaign getting underway.
This comes with the 26-year-old known to have been a long-term midfield target on the part of Man United.
Amid the Red Devils’ ongoing pursuit of deep-lying reinforcements in the middle of the park, Phillips, an established international proven at the top level of the English game, was unsurprisingly identified as a front-running target.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, the Yorkshire native, in turn, was drawn on his decision to rebuff the advances of the Old Trafford hierarchy, in favour of taking his talents to the Etihad.
And Phillips was quick to cite his alliance to Leeds as key, explaining:
“Going to United? There was never any chance of me going there. You know my loyalty to Leeds. My family are all Leeds fans.
“I was honoured by Man Utd wanting me, one of the biggest teams in the world, but no, I had to stay loyal to Leeds and go to the other side of Manchester.”
Pressed further, the midfielder added:
“I don’t know, 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.”
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