Phil Jones has turned down the chance to have a Manchester United testimonial despite nearing his tenth season of playing for the club.
After ten years playing for one club, players are usually offered the chance to play in a friendly commemorating their time there.
However, The Athletic report that Jones has decided against such an event due to his decreasing popularity at Old Trafford.
When Jones signed a new four-year contract at United in February, the club gave him the option of holding his own testimonial, but insisted that only his mum and dad would attend such an event.
Jones has become an unserious figure during his time at the Red Devils, often made fun of for his eccentric style of defending and weird faces he pulls during matches.
He is aware of his public image, and after committing a calamitous error in United’s 3-3 draw away at Sheffield United on Sunday to gift the Blades the lead, Jones was said to be ‘devastated’.
In an interview with Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi – who has also been criticised relentlessly for being bad at his job – Der Spiegel revealed that the German was voted as the second worst defender in the world by readers of Spanish publication Marca, with Jones taking the number one spot.
It’s fair to say that Jones’ United career has not played out as was expected when he made the move from Blackburn Rovers back in 2012.
He arrived at Old Trafford a year after Chris Smalling, with United fans dreaming of a solid English centre-back partnership for years to come, but both have become little more than average defenders.
Jones, now aged 27, has played more games for United than legendary players such as Jaap Stam and Paul McGrath, despite rarely being first-choice.
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