Phil Jones will leave Manchester United at the end of the season, after over 12 years at the football club.
Jones, a player who Alex Ferguson once claimed could be the greatest player to ever play for Manchester United, leaves the club aged 31.
While his career is far from over at the age of 31, it feels like Jones' career ended a long time ago.
Jones was handed a new contract by Jose Mourinho back in 2019 and has only made 16 starts since. He was replaced at half-time in five of them.
He did come back into the team last season under Ralf Rangnick when Man United were struggling with injuries, and he did relatively well too, but due to a knee problem he has suffered with for years, he failed to kick on.
Now it has emerged he is finally leaving the club, Man United need to learn from their mistakes.
Phil Jones will leave Manchester United at the end of the current season, decision confirmed. The club will release the centre back on free transfer. 🔴 #MUFC
Both Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe will look for new opportunities as free agents. pic.twitter.com/wOl8eSjilR— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 16, 2023
Jones has been collecting a very nice salary every week for years at this point, with United getting absolutely nothing in return.
Earlier this year, Man United boss Erik ten Hag made the incredible admission that Jones had not trained once since the beginning off the season.
"I can't say (if Jones will play again this season). What I can say is that he's not available for training since the first day of training this season so I think there's not an opportunity for you to recover quickly and be available quickly."
Phil Jones to leave Man United
Simply put, Jones has been taking money from the club for nothing in return for years, and United have just let it happen.
His exit should be the start of a new beginning at Man United, where players are not allowed to hold power over the club due to their ridiculous salaries.
Jones could have left a long time ago in the hunt for regular football, but he didn't want that, because he knew he would have to take a paycut.
No other club on earth would be crazy enough to pay him what United have done, so he stuck it out, happy to see out the crucial years of his career on the bench.
United can no longer be the stupid club who pay the big bucks to players who don't deserve it, and if they are foolish enough to make some bad business, they need to rectify it ASAP, instead of allowing it to worsen over time.
Jones said that he won't be having a testimonial at the club, because "only his mum and dad would show up".
An upsetting sentiment, but one that sums up his entire time at the club. A player Ferguson dubbed the next Roy Keane is leaving, and every fan will be happy to see the back of him.
The fans used to chant "There's only one Phil Jones", and for Manchester United's sake, they'd better hope so.
