Phil Jones tells surprise story about Manchester United star who wanted to ‘break’ his face

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·8 October 2024

Phil Jones tells surprise story about Manchester United star who wanted to ‘break’ his face

Phil Jones has revealed his side of the story from a row with former Manchester United star Nani in the dressing room after a match.

The Portuguese winger threatened to break Jones’ face following a shock 1-0 defeat to Wigan in April 2012. It was a result that contributed to United’s failure to win the league that season as Man City lifted the Premier League trophy for the first time.

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Shaun Maloney scored the only goal for Wigan shortly after half time, but United were unable to find a response with players like Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez in the team.

Jones also featured in the starting line-up and recalled a moment late on in the match when he became frustrated with Nani.

Phil Jones weighs in on Nani’s feisty side

Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

However, Nani didn’t take well to the criticism aimed in his direction and pulled Jones aside after the match.

“I remember a game we had at Wigan and we pretty much lost the league,” Jones told United legend Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel.

“We were losing 1-0 in the 90th minute and Nani, bless him, is doing all his stepovers on the side of the pitch.

“I’m going, ‘just pass me the ball, pass me the ball’. And then I screamed at him, ‘just pass me the f*****g ball!’

“Anyway, we come into the changing room after the game and he’s come in shouting ‘I will break your face, I will break your face!’

“I’m s******g myself. I don’t know what’s going to happen here. And then the manager comes in and shouts at everyone to sit down so cheers gaffer!”

It comes as a surprise that Jones feared for himself ahead of a potential tussle with Nani, but Ferdinand reveals that the Portuguese star once broke a reserve player’s ribs in a training ground bust-up.

“Nani didn’t mind a tear-up, by the way,” Ferdinand added.

“I saw him punch up a few players on the training ground. He broke one of the young lad’s ribs, it was out of order to be fair.”