I spoke to Arsenal - but Man signed for United after boss invited me on holiday

The retired defender has revealed he chose Manchester United instead after a 'nervous' meeting with the Red Devils boss.

Phil Jones went on to spend 12 years at Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded him to sign from Blackburn in 2011.

The youngster was just 19 at the time, having progressed through the Rovers' academy and made 40 first-team appearances.

After his debut as a 17-year-old, Jones was already in demand with interest from a host of Premier League clubs.

He had also already established himself as an England under-21 international.

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Recalling his Ewood Park exit, Jones told the High Performance Podcast: "I knew my time was coming to an end at Blackburn and I knew there was a lot of clubs sniffing around.

"Obviously I signed for Man United, but there was Chelsea, Arsenal.

"I met with Arsene Wenger, I met with David Moyes, I met with City, a few of the representatives at City, Harry Redknapp rang me.

"I was fortunate, I had a whole host of clubs. I could have chosen anyone."

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Despite the interest in the teenager, Jones admits United made him wait before making their approach.

He added: "I met with all these people and then the only club that didn't ring me or speak to me was Man United.

"So I'm in Dubai with my wife, this is before we had kids and an unknown number rings me.

"I never answer unknown numbers, that's one thing I've changed now because you to network, you answer every call now.

"Then it rings me again so my wife's like 'you're going to have to answer it'. So I answered it half asleep in bed, it must have been eight o'clock in the morning. This voice comes on and says 'Phil, Sir Alex here.'

"I've literally shot out of bed, my wife's going 'what's going on' and then he just said basically along the lines of 'we'd love to have you at the club, I've loved watching you, I know everything about you and I'd love you to come out to Nice to come and see me and have a chat with me'.

"So that was it, put the phone down, flew back. He was on holiday at the time, they'd just got beat, it was the season they got beat by Barcelona in the Champions League, 3-1, they absolutely battered United that game as well.

"So I went out to meet him with my agent, David Gill, went on a private plane which again for me being on a private plane, I'm 18-years-old going out to see Sir Alex on a private plane.

"Met him in his house in Nice and I remember being so nervous, I've never felt nerves like it. My agent's gone upstairs with David Gill and I'm sat having a conversation with Sir Alex like this and was absolutely bricking it.

"He didn't ask me for half an hour, 40 minutes, he didn't ask me one question on football.

"It was 'how's your family, how's your mum, how's your dad, what were your grades like at school?' I was just like 'is he going to ask me about football?"

Jones even admitted he could have still joined the Gunners after his meeting with Ferguson.

However, it was a closing remark from the legendary manager which convinced him to sign for the Red Devils.

The ex-England international continued: "It made me feel so relaxed and it really wasn't as intimidating as I thought it would be now I've met with other managers and it's been quite intimidating.

"I'm only a young kid obviously, but he's made me feel so relaxed. Even though I'm still on edge a little bit.

"So he asked me all these questions about my grades, my scores and all these other things and then my agent came down.

"Then he started to talk about football a little bit, 'I watched you in this game and I love your passion' and then at the end I remember the last thing he said to me and it still gives me shivers, he looked me in the eyes and said 'Phil, are you a winner son?' and I was like 'yeah'.

"In my head I'm thinking 'where do I sign? where do I sign?' and I was meeting Arsenal literally three hours later in London.

"I was flying to London to go and meet Arsene Wenger and I remember I came out and just said to my agent 'I don't want to go, I'm done, I've made my decision'.

"It was just the aura of him, the presence of him, the way he carried himself, the way he explained and sold the club to me as like no other."

Jones went on to make 229 appearances for United, including 65 under Ferguson.

He also won six trophies including the Premier League and Europa League.

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The 32-year-old left Old Trafford last summer before announcing his retirement in March of this year.

During his career, Jones also won 27 caps for England and played for the Three Lions at two World Cups.