Gary Neville has recalled a tearful meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson when brother Phil Neville told the legendary Man Utd boss he wanted to leave the club.
The two siblings had been at United since the early days of their youth and had come through the fabled academy Class of '92 to achieve great success with the senior side.
Yet despite Phil's role with the first-team, he never managed to hold down a regular spot in the side, unlike right-back Gary.
And as the years ticked by, Phil eventually decided to seek pastures new, prompting an emotional showdown with Fergie.
“Phil rang me up one Sunday and said ‘I’ve made a decision, I want to leave’," Gary told Sky Sports' Off Script Podcast.
"I said it’s a big call, you’re playing a lot of games at United, you're winning trophies but he wanted to leave.
"We actually went around Sir Alex’s house that night and went to see him.
"I remember there being a few tears, it’s even emotional now because I’d been at United since the age of 11 and Phil had been there since he was 13, going to see Sir Alex to say that he wants to leave, that Phil wanted to go and play football every single week."
Phil departed Old Trafford in the summer of 2005 after a total of 15 years at United.
He joined Everton for a fee in the region of £3million, and made his debut against United, in which he came up against brother Gary.
His decision to leave was vindicated as he went on to enjoy an eight-year spell at Goodison Park, including being made Toffees captain.
Gary added: "David Moyes had been very keen to sign him at Everton and had shown big interest, Bill Kenwright had as well, which was a big influence on my brother and my Dad.
"I do remember it like it was yesterday and I don’t remember a lot of my football matches but I remember them leaving.
"They were big wrench moments that I had and they were among the biggest disappointments I had at United."
