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After spending eight seasons in the first team at Elland Road, Phillips helped Leeds secure Premier League survival a year after winning the Championship title.
His performances also earned him a key role in England's run to the European Championships final in 2021, with his move to the Etihad expected to take his career to the next level.
Instead, it marked arguably the most difficult period of his career.
When Phillips arrived at Manchester City ahead of the 2022-23 season, he faced the challenge of breaking into a midfield that had won the Premier League only a few months earlier.
That task became even harder when, after just one substitute appearance in the Premier League for his new club, he was ruled out for almost three months with a shoulder injury sustained in training.
Phillips was sidelined from September and, by the time he returned in November, domestic football was coming to a halt ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
It left the England international competing with Rodri for a spot in midfield, with the Spain international further establishing himself as City's first-choice holding midfielder.
After making just two substitute appearances for England at the World Cup, Phillips returned in December to find himself out of City's squad for their first game back against Liverpool. Guardiola publicly accused him of being "overweight" and not fit enough to train or play.
By the time Phillips was deemed available for selection, City had found their rhythm. Guardiola's side lost only three of their final 22 Premier League matches as they secured a fifth title in six years.
The club went on to become the first English side in almost a quarter of a century to complete the treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, with Rodri scoring the winner against Inter Milan in the latter.
In 2024, Phillips, then on loan at Ipswich Town, said Guardiola's comments about his weight had left him feeling "frustrated".
