Phil Jones has penned a heartfelt letter to the Manchester United fans following the confirmation of his departure from the club next month.
Having joined as a promising youngster from Blackburn Rovers, Jones has dedicated 12 years to Old Trafford. Regrettably, his career was plagued by injuries, limiting him to just six Premier League appearances in the past four seasons.
Despite legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson's early praise, Jones was unable to fulfill his potential.
In response to the announcement of his exit at the end of his contract in June, Jones took to social media, a platform he rarely used due to past abuse, to express his gratitude to the fans.
He wished manager Erik ten Hag, the coaching staff, and his soon-to-be former teammates the best of luck while also extending his appreciation to the club's medical team and his beloved family.
"I thought about how best to present my words to everyone and felt that I wanted to talk direct to the fans who have supported me throughout my time at Manchester United," he began. "It's always tough to leave a club. I did so already with Blackburn Rovers, all those years ago aged only 19, but I could never imagine what was to follow.
"My time at United has been nothing short of incredible. When I decided to leave Blackburn, I always wanted to prove myself further. I'd represented my boyhood club, and lived a dream, but I was desperate to show everyone what I could do at the highest level. I had this hunger inside me, I was desperate to continue that at a club that could challenge for everything. I had offers from a few places, but I was waiting and waiting for the call from United.
"One day, on holiday, the phone rang and it was Sir Alex. I left my holiday that day; I couldn't wait to meet him. I couldn't wait to sign and, most of all, I couldn't wait to get started. There was only one club where I wanted to continue my journey in the game. To wear this shirt just once, to wear this badge and represent everyone associated with it, was an honour.
"I wish I could have played more. I wish I could have given more to the many squads I played alongside. I will say, from the bottom of my heart, I did everything I could. I did everything the medical team asked of me. I never left a stone unturned in the pursuit of living my dream and having the opportunity to represent Manchester United on the pitch.
"I spent some difficult days away from my family, rehabilitating and recovering away from everyone, recuperating away from the training pitch, which I was desperate to get back to. I've said before that I found it hard to even speak to my team-mates because I was hurt that I couldn't help them. I was hurt that my family couldn't see me on matchdays, and you feel like you're letting people down.
"Sometimes, in life, things happen that we don't like, but we have to learn to accept it and be at peace in our minds that we did everything we could to overcome the challenges. In your career, and life, that's all we can really do.
"The road can be rocky and throw you off track. It's about getting up from setbacks and keeping going. This is a lesson I'll push into my next challenges, for whatever lies ahead. I lived a dream at the biggest club in the world. I played for England in major tournaments. At United, I won trophies, most notably the Premier League under Sir Alex, in his final season.
