A Premier League title winner was convinced to snub Arsenal and Chelsea because of a manager’s “aura”.
The retired defender revealed he chose Manchester United instead after a “nervous” meeting with the Red Devils boss.
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Phil Jones spent 12 years at Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded him to move from Blackburn in 2011.
The youngster was just 19 at the time and had come through Rovers’ academy and made 40 first-team appearances.
After making his debut as a 17-year-old, Jones was already in demand and interested in numerous Premier League clubs.
He had already established himself as an England U21 international.
Recalling his exit from Ewood Park, Jones told the High Performance Podcast: “I knew my time at Blackburn was coming to an end and I knew there were a lot of clubs sniffing around.”
“Of course I signed for Man United, but there were also Chelsea and Arsenal.”
“I met with Arsene Wenger, I met with David Moyes, I met with City, a few of the City representatives, Harry Redknapp called me.”
“I was lucky, I had a whole bunch of clubs. I could have picked anyone.”
Despite their interest in the teenager, Jones admits United made him wait before they approached.
He added: “I met with all these people and then Man United were the only club that didn’t call me or speak to me.”
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“So I’m in Dubai with my wife, this was before we had children, and an unknown number calls me.
“I never answer unknown numbers, I’ve changed that now because now you answer every call when you connect.”
“Then my doorbell rings again and my wife says, ‘You have to answer it.’ So I lost weight in bed, half asleep, it must have been eight in the morning. Phil, Sir Alex here.’
“I literally shot out of bed, my wife said, ‘What’s wrong?’ and then he basically just said, ‘We’d love to have you at the club, I loved watching you, I know everything.’ about you and I would be happy if you come to Nice to visit and chat with me.
“So that was it, hung up the phone and flew back. He was on holiday at the time, they had just been beaten, it was the season in which they had beaten Barcelona 3-1 in the Champions League, they were completely beaten up.” This game also united them.
“So I went out with my agent David Gill to meet him and flew on a private plane, and as I’m on a private plane, I’m 18 years old and I went to see Sir Alex on a private plane.
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“I met him at his house in Nice and I remember being so nervous, I have never felt such nervousness. My agent went up with David Gill and I had like a conversation with Sir Alex and completely screwed it up.”
“He didn’t ask me for half an hour or 40 minutes, he didn’t ask me a single question about football.”
“It was ‘How’s your family, how’s your mom, how’s your dad, what were your grades in school?'” I was just like, “Is he going to ask me about football?”
Jones even admitted that he could still have moved to the Gunners after his meeting with Ferguson.
However, it was a final remark from the legendary manager that convinced him to sign for the Red Devils.
The former England international continued: “It made me feel so relaxed and it really wasn’t as intimidating as I thought it would be. Now that I’ve met with other managers, it was pretty intimidating.”
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“I’m just a little kid, of course, but he made me feel so relaxed. Even though I’m still a little nervous.”
“So he asked me all these questions about my grades, my scores and all these other things, and then my agent came.
“Then he started talking a bit about football: ‘I watched you play that game and I love your passion’, and at the end I remember the last thing he said to me and it always gives me chills still when he looked into me.” his eyes and said: “Phil, are you a winner’s son?” and I said “Yes”.
“In my head I’m thinking, ‘Where do I sign? Where do I sign?’ and I met Arsenal in London literally three hours later.
“I flew to London to meet Arsene Wenger and I remember coming out and just saying to my agent: ‘I don’t want to go, I’m done, I’ve made my decision’.”
“It was just his aura, his presence, the way he behaved, the way he explained the club to me and sold it like no one else.”
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Jones played 229 games for United, including 65 under Ferguson.
He also won six trophies, including the Premier League and Europa League.
The 32-year-old left Old Trafford last summer before announcing his retirement in March this year.
During his career, Jones also won 27 caps for England and played for the Three Lions at two World Cups.