Calvin Phillips, a Leeds graduate and one of the club’s key players, has moved to Manchester City for €49 million in the summer of 2022. This transfer became one of the most unsuccessful transfers for the “villages” in recent years, and the football player’s career went downhill.
It started well
Calvin Phillips, a Leeds graduate and one of the club’s key players, has moved to Manchester City for €49 million in the summer of 2022. This transfer became one of the most unsuccessful transfers for the “villages” in recent years, and the football player’s career went downhill.
Phillips, nicknamed ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ by fans, was Leeds’ star and hope. He helped the team return to the Premier League after several years in the Championship, but the Whites failed to stay in the elite. Not wanting to fight for survival, the midfielder accepted an offer from Manchester City, but rejected Manchester United’s interest due to the historic rivalry between them. By the way, betting on the corresponding transfers on the https://1win-korea.kr website was also accepted.
However, his move to the reigning champions of England did not live up to expectations. Already in his first game of the 2022/23 season, Phillips played just one minute, but soon suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to miss most of the first half of the season. Even after returning in January 2023, the player rarely appeared on the field and spent a lot of time on the bench.
Despite Manchester City winning the treble last season, Phillips’ contribution to that success was minimal. Manager Pep Guardiola has repeatedly hinted at the player’s overweight and other issues while preferring Rodri for the defensive midfield position.
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What causes the problem?
In the summer of 2023, City signed two more central midfielders, Mateo Kovacic and Mateusz Núñez, which further complicated Phillips’ situation. He has not played in the Premier League since November, and only plays in the Champions League when the result of the match is no longer fundamentally important.
Guardiola admitted he could not give the player enough playing time and would not stop him from leaving. However, even Phillips’ loan may be difficult for many clubs to afford due to the player’s high salary and Manchester City’s demands. Juventus have already abandoned the idea of signing the midfielder on loan, while Newcastle and Everton could face financial constraints.
At 28, Phillips can still restart his career, but he needs the right conditions to do so. Now “Yorkshire Pirlo” risks being remembered only by Leeds fans, and his move to Manchester City will go down in history as a defeat for both club and player.
