Phil Jones ‘rejected’ the chance to have a testimonial at Man United

Manchester United defender Phil Jones has reportedly rejected the chance to have a testimonial.

Jones first joined United from Blackburn Rovers back in 2011 in a deal worth a reported £16 million.

Since then, he has gone on to make 229 appearances for the Old Trafford.

However, over the last few years, he has seen his game time drop massively due to injuries and poor form.

Back in 2019, Jones signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal that would take his time at the club beyond 10 years.

As a result, the centre-back is entitled to have a testimonial match to celebrate his time at the club.

However, according to The Athletic, Jones did not request a testimonial.

Journalist Daniel Taylor wrote: “When Jones signed a new four-year contract in February he was entitled to request a testimonial as part of the deal, as was the case with Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and all the other players who have given the club a decade of their lives.

“Jones, however, was acutely aware of his flagging popularity and, when the option of asking for a testimonial was brought up, he decided against it.”

Alamy

Taylor added: “He also has a nice line in self-deprecating humour (which is probably for the best right now) and if anyone asks whether there will be a testimonial he tends to turn the joke on himself. ‘Apart from my mum and dad,’ he will say, ‘who else would turn up?’

“The people who are closest to him say he is only human and that of course it gets to him, particularly when he also has to think about the effect on his wife, Kaya, and his parents, Mark and Helen, and what his daughter, Alaria, will make of it when she is old enough to read.”

Alamy

During his time with United, Jones won the Premier League, FA Cup, FA Community Shield and the Europa League.

As his contract is set to expire at the end of the current season, it has been reported that Jones will leave United as a free agent.