Kalvin Phillips has revealed that there was “never any chance” of him joining Leeds United’s fierce rivals Manchester United this summer.
The Leeds-born midfielder left Elland Road for Manchester City earlier this month, ending a 12-year association with his boyhood club, but insists that his loyalty to Leeds meant that he could never join the Red Devils.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the England international said: “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 United 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. It’s just the way I am. I want to be loyal to the people who have given me the biggest opportunity in the world.”
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Phillips replaced Nathan Ake at the break to make his City debut in their first pre-season friendly. Kevin de Bruyne scored twice as they prevailed 2-1 against Club America in Houston on Thursday (UK time).
The 26-year-old has also revealed that Pep Guardiola has joked with him about Leeds almost costing City the Premier League title in 2021. Marcelo Bielsa’s side took four points from City during their returning season in the top-flight. After registering a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Elland Road, Stuart Dallas scored a dramatic last-gasp winner to secure victory for a 10-man Leeds at the Etihad Stadium.
“We did take four points off City, to be fair Pep said it in the training session the other day,” Phillips said via MEN. “He was talking about Leeds and it’s a lot different to how we played. Then he said in the first year you took four points off us and nearly cost us the title but in the second season after that we got you back.”
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