JOHN STONES snubbed a transfer to Manchester United to join rivals City, Louis van Gaal has revealed.
The Citizens signed the Everton defender for £47.5million in the summer of 2016.
John Stones signed for Manchester City in 2016 – a year after turning down rivals UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But Dutchman Van Gaal – who left Old Trafford at the end of the previous season – had failed with a swoop to land Stones a year earlier as a replacement for Jonny Evans.
Then-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho also attempted to land the Barnsley-born centre-back in 2015.
It was Pep Guardiola who got Stones, though, in his first summer at the Etihad as he arrived alongside Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Claudio Bravo and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Stones’ City career appeared to be over before rediscovering his best form this season.
And commenting on the one that got away, Van Gaal said: “John Stones is back to his very best.
“I remember seeing him as a young defender – I thought he was fantastic and blessed with a great personality.
“This was the reason I wanted to sign him when at Manchester United. I would’ve loved it if he came, but he chose Manchester City.
“It is great that Stones is full of confidence again after losing it for a while.
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“Pep has given him confidence again and it is wonderful to see how well Stones is playing again.”
Stones was regularly overlooked in favour of Fernandinho amid City’s defensive woes last season and was heavily linked with a transfer away.
But this term, even with Aymeric Laporte fit, he has partnered Ruben Dias brilliantly, forming a formidable partnership.
In total, the ex-Toffees man has made 22 appearances across all competitions so far, winning 21 and drawing the other 0-0 at Old Trafford.
Defensively, his record is sublime, conceding just FOUR goals and keeping 18 clean sheets.
And he has even added goals to his game, bagging in the Carabao Cup against United before his first league goals for City came in the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in January.
Stones brought up a century of Premier League games under Guardiola with his latest clean sheet at Arsenal on Sunday.
Now as he marches towards a third title in four years, there is plenty of talk Gareth Southgate should hand him a recall to the England squad thanks to his imperious form.
Louis van Gaal tried to get Stones to replace Jonny Evans at Old TraffordCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Stones scored his first two Premier League goals for City in the win over Crystal Palace and could force his way back into the England teamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Liverpool boast the most-valuable squad in the Premier League
Man City star John Stones belts out Phil Collins’ In The Air Tonight in the car
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
