Everton defender Leighton Baines has discussed the reasons why he snubbed a move to Manchester United and said he was right to do so.
The former Wigan Athletic man decided to remain at Goodison Park and not follow former boss David Moyes and midfielder Marouane Fellaini to Old Trafford last summer and he has said that his decision was the correct one.
“What the club had done lately is retain its best players,” Baines told the Liverpool Echo.
“Everyone here who has been linked with someone has stayed and committed to the club. The younger lads; Ross [Barkley], [John] Stonesy, Seamus [Coleman] have all been linked with clubs and they’ve all got their best football ahead of them, but they’re all happy to do it here.
“That’s as big as anything for me.
“The manager was telling me that’s what he wanted to do when I signed my contract.
“I signed following that summer of the whole United thing, but that was in their minds back then in terms of how to change the status and perception so we can keep hold of players when other clubs come calling.
“Since that with me, a few of the other lads have been talked about as going by the media but in all fairness none of them have been the slightest bit interested in playing anywhere else.”
“You hear that from them. They are enjoying it here and they want to achieve what they can here.”