Roy Keane personally negotiated contract with Alex Ferguson for Man U youth star

David Jones has revealed Roy Keane and Gary Neville negotiated his first major contract with Manchester United on his behalf.

The midfielder came through United’s youth ranks to and was offered a new deal when he broke through into the first team as a 19-year-old.

Alex Ferguson was keen to keep hold of Jones, but the youngster didn’t have an agent and club legends Keane and Neville stepped in to help.

‘It was a great place to start my career. I got a fantastic insight into what makes a top player,’ he told Sportsmail.

‘At the time, Manchester United were without doubt the biggest club in the world and every player wanted to play for them and for Sir Alex Ferguson.

‘I was 19 and had been training with the first team for about six months when the club offered me a new contract.

‘I didn’t have an agent back then and this is when Roy Keane and Gary Neville pulled me aside after training one day and offered to help with the contract.

‘They were both fantastic. We sat down in the players’ lounge and they went through everything with me. Even that was an experience to learn from!

‘They wanted to make sure I was getting a fair deal for where I was at in my career and it was actually Roy and Gary who negotiated the contract with the manager on my behalf.’

‘After I’d signed I bought them both a bottle of wine as a thank you,’ he added.

‘The cheapest commission I’ve ever had to pay in my whole career.’

While Keane and Neville clearly had faith in Jones, the Englishman struggled to nail down a regular place in United’s side.

Jones was battling with the likes of Keane for a spot in the starting eleven and he would eventually leave the club at the age of 21 in search of regular football.

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