Manchester United favourite Gary Neville says he would never have played for Leeds United 'in a million years'

Gary Neville says he would never have joined Leeds United "in a million years" due to his loyalties with Manchester United.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville says he would never have played for Leeds United "in a million years".Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville says he would never have played for Leeds United "in a million years".
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville says he would never have played for Leeds United "in a million years".

The 45-year-old, now one of Sky Sports' leading pundits, hung up his boots 2011 after spending his 20-year career at Old Trafford.

And in Sky's Off Script podcast, hosted by Geoff Shreeves, the former right-back detailed three clubs he would and wouldn't have signed for during his playing days.

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Indeed, Neville's reasoning was nothing malicious towards to the Elland Road club, it was purely based on his allegiances with the Red Devils.

The same goes for Manchester City and Liverpool. Newcastle, Arsenal and Aston Villa, however, were clubs he was open to joining.

Neville explained: “I’m fortunate in the sense that because I signed a five-year deal at 29 – it ran out at 34 – I’d made the decision that if Sir Alex had come up to me at the end of that contract and said ‘Your time is up’ I was never going to go and play for another club. I only wanted Manchester United next to my name.

“However, if he’d have come to me at the age of 28 and said ‘Gary, your time is up’ of course I would have played for another Premier League club. I would have had to have done because I was a football player.

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“I would never have played for (Manchester) City or Liverpool or Leeds United in a million years.

"I don’t criticise or feel anything bad for players who did do that. Me personally I never could have played for those three clubs. Not because they’re not great clubs in their own right and they don’t have great fanbases, just the rivalry is too much.

"The feeling is too much."

Neville, who made over 600 appearances for Manchester United, was under no illusions that the feeling was mutual.

“It’s hypothetical," he added. "They never would have approached me because they’d have realised it would have been too controversial a move and secondly I would never have gone to play for them.”

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