Phil Jones has weighed in on his former club’s summer transfer window, with one deal in particular leaving him ‘devastated’.
The former Manchester United defender confirmed last month that he’d decided to pull the curtains on his playing career and switch his focus fully to coaching, having worked with the under-14s and under-18s of the Red Devils academy since the start of the 2023/2024 campaign.
Jones, 32, was released from United upon the culmination of the 2022/2023 term, with his final outing as a Red coming 12 months prior in a 3-0 win over Brentford. His time at Old Trafford was unfortunately marred by seemingly neverending injury setbacks, but he did leave the club with a Premier League title to his name and an honourable 229 appearances.
Nonetheless, when reflecting on United’s summer business, the Englishman told BBC Radio how saddened he felt when Scott McTominay’s move to Napoli was announced.
McTominay ended a 22-year association with the Reds when his switch was finalised, having joined the club at just five years old.
Yet, he was well aware that he’d be playing a reduced role for the season ahead, especially given that United were in the process of signing counterpart Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. As such, he decided it was time to cut ties with his boyhood club.
Jones disheartened by sale of his former teammate
“I’m gutted,” Jones reacted. “I love him. He’s a wonderful boy. He’s so good in and around the dressing room. I think he’s got so much more quality than people give him credit for. He’s a lot better technically than what people give him credit for. He arrives in the box at certain times and scores certain goals, as he showed last season for United and Scotland.
“I understand why he’s gone, in terms of the FFP (financial fair play rules), which I think is a bit of a travesty that we’re still having to sell homegrown talent because of FFP. Maybe it needs to be looked at. I’m devastated he’s gone. He was an important part of the team. It’s going to be a loss – it is a huge loss for the team. But I’m delighted for him. I texted him yesterday and wished him good luck. He’s excited about starting his new challenge. He’s going to a giant of a club in Napoli with Antonio Conte.”
