Phil Neville has fascinatingly opened up on his emotional departure from Manchester United, revealing that his brother Gary instigated his exit by setting up a chat with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Neville joined English rivals Everton in the summer of 2005 having become frustrated over a lack of playing time at his beloved club United.
And with the writing on the wall surrounding his future at Old Trafford, it was his older 'protective' brother Gary that set the wheels in motion after he struggled to come to terms with the likes of Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Quinton Fortune playing in front of him.
Phil Neville (R) has revealed his brother Gary (L) helped him secure his exit from Man United
Speaking on Jamie Carragher's 'Greatest Game' podcast, Neville revealed all about what led to his exit: 'The decision came in an eight month period where he kept playing these players, and then I would play a few games and do well, and these players would come back in.
'And there was one game against West Brom at home, I played and got subbed, Quinton or Djemba-Djemba came on, and I was sat on the bench, and I never forget... the secretary after the game came up and said to me, "I know what you're thinking". He said "you need to leave" and I said "yes that is what I am thinking".
'The ball had probably started the previous eight months. We got to the cup final and we played Arsenal in Cardiff and we lost on penalties. And I wasn't named as a sub, and that was the final nail. I remember that day thinking it was time, the writing is on the wall. And Steve McClaren rung me from Middlesbrough, and said if I was interested. And I knew Steve knew Alex, so I thought they had maybe spoken to each other, and thought that was a real sign. But David Moyes approached my dad as well.'
Neville - now Inter Miami manager - then opened up about the huge role his brother played in helping him secure a move, by arranging a talk in Ferguson's living room between the trio where he finally made a decision over his next chapter.
The duo shake hands before Man United's league clash with Everton in 2006 at Old Trafford
'I was with Gary one day, and I said this is happening,' he disclosed. 'And Gary being Gary, he literally picked up his phone and rang Sir Alex straight away, and within 10 minutes we were sat in his front room. Literally Gary wasn't my team-mate, he became my brother, the protective one around me. He
