Man Utd: Phil Jones scores incredible goal in training in 2020
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has lambasted Phil Jones for staying at the club as long as he has. Jones has not played a minute of first-team football since the FA Cup fourth round win over Tranmere in January 2020. The defender has been absent for over 18 months due to a serious knee injury.
Man Utd news: Rio Ferdinand has torn into United defender Phil Jones (Image: VIBE WITH FIVE/GETTY)
"He’s had too many injuries… I was in the same team as Phil Jones, he came from Blackburn as a young kid, everyone was saying he was going to be this great player.
"Huge potential but injuries have absolutely annihilated his career and then confidence issues at certain times as well.
"He’s never been able to fully establish himself in the team. Whether it’s injuries, lack of form, lack of confidence.
"I think he should’ve gone ages ago. He should’ve gone before Chris Smalling went. Find a new club and play some football."
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Jones last signed a contract in February 2019, a decision from United which still confuses Ferdinand.
He added: "I am baffled at how he’s still been given a new deal at the club given his past few years at the club. It just doesn’t make sense to me how you get a new deal.
"I remember back in the day you’d have to do some absolute graft to get a new deal.
"You’d have to be putting in performances, you’d have to be a vital member of the team. Phil Jones isn’t that.
Man Utd news: Phil Jones has won two Premier League titles with United (Image: EXPRESS)
"He’s done well. Listen, good luck to him if you can get it. Staying at Man United is a great gig, but I look at him as a person, are you really going to be happy sitting there all these years."
Ferdinand says he would not talk to Jones if he was a team-mate of his and compared his situation to former Chelsea defender Winston Bogarde.
"There are players who are happy to just sit at clubs and not play and just chill," he continued.
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"Winston Bogarde did it at Chelsea for about three or four years. Signed a big deal and commuted in from Holland.
"If I was in the squad with someone like that I wouldn’t talk to them.
"They are a waste of time, why would I chat to you and give you any energy, taking that away from my other teammates who are here to play and go into battle for 90 minutes every week."