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Lescott and Rooney battling for possession in 2012. PA Archive/PA Images

Lescott reveals encouragement from Rooney and Ferdinand to join Man City

The defender switched from Everton to the Etihad Stadium in 2009.

WAYNE ROONEY AND RIO Ferdinand encouraged Joleon Lescott to join Manchester United’s arch-rivals Manchester City in 2009 at the start of the club’s revival.

Lescott moved to the Etihad Stadium from Everton for a reported £22 million [$29m] prior to the turn of the decade.

Forming a formidable partnership with Vincent Kompany at the heart of the City back-four, the centre-back won four major honours during five seasons at the club.

Among that silverware was the 2011-12 Premier League title – their first top-flight championship for 44 years – which is regarded as the most important moment of their meteoric rise.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak played a key role in tempting Lescott to move to Manchester but talks with Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, at the time key members of the squad on the other side of the city at Old Trafford, also proved decisive.

“He [the chairman] sold me the story of where they wanted to be,” he told BT Sport.

“Obviously it is easy for him to say that and see it as a vision because he is a businessman first.

“He believed the club was going to be where they are now. As a player I hoped that would be the case but not as quickly as it has happened. 

Rio will probably remember I spoke to him and Wayne [Rooney] at the time. Wayne being a massive Evertonian was encouraging me to go there because the ambition of the club matched me as a player.

“To go there and be a part of that and see it develop over time it hasn’t surprised me.”

Lescott is now back at City advising the club’s loan players.

Upon swapping Merseyside for City in the first full summer of Sheikh Mansour’s ownership, Lescott doubled his wage packet to £82,000-a-week, as the club embarked on bringing in the best from the Premier League and Europe.

Over £1.3 billion has been invested in the decade since the United Arab Emirates deputy prime minister took charge but Lescott rejects the notion he only moved for money.

We had that extra motivation of people, players, pundits, fans only assuming that we went there for money,” he added.

“No-one assumed we were going there to win the title.

“[It was said] that was the only reason we went to the club, it wan’t to win the Premier League or create something, that is happening now.”

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    Mute #JUSTICE4NOEL
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:30 PM

    Why is there a Hollywood star in the picture lads?

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    Mute grandslamkbo
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:48 PM

    @#JUSTICE4NOEL: Didn’t go for glory at the end either, just passed the ball on to COB to put the game away. Israel Folau should take note.

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    Mute William Finnegan
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    Feb 16th 2019, 9:34 PM

    @#JUSTICE4NOEL: sporting icon

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:04 PM

    Fair play to Leinster, it got sticky in a game that should have been straight forward but they hung in there and got the job done and came home with the bonus point win. There were some very average performances in the first half, especially from the all international front row who were all outplayed but the half time chat got them all more focussed. Fardy did well and Deegan put in some big numbers. Thought o brien did well at 12 too and so did Gibson Park. Perfect result for Cullen, maximum points but plenty of work ons for the young lads come Monday morning.

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    Mute The_Muffin_Man
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:27 PM

    Porter is one of the most overrated players at the moment. Has little to no influence over a game and is average at best. Without bias to munster I would put him below stephen archer

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    Mute Eoin Murphy
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:32 PM

    @The_Muffin_Man: good joke im sure stephen archer is in the ireland squad too

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    Mute Michael Murray
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:54 PM

    @The_Muffin_Man: well for the bench, Ryan a better all round option maybe.

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    Mute Fiachra Ahern Esq
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:58 PM

    @The_Muffin_Man: about time someone called this. Porter is really struggling for form at the moment and it’s a worry if Furlong gets injured. The gulf is massive

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    Mute Rollander
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    Feb 16th 2019, 11:20 PM

    @The_Muffin_Man: what absolute shite talk. Porter is still firmly 2 for Ireland.

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    Mute Mike Rugby Nuts
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    Feb 17th 2019, 8:55 AM

    @The_Muffin_Man: I cringe watching him trot around the park. Nothing in open play but excellent in the scrum.

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    Mute Bob Joe
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    Feb 17th 2019, 1:49 PM

    @The_Muffin_Man: 1 bad game, he is a class ahead of Ryan. Deluded

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    Mute Anthony
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    Feb 16th 2019, 7:11 PM

    Carty has to start against Italy

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Feb 16th 2019, 7:13 PM

    @Anthony: why?

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    Mute Ian Verdon
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    Feb 16th 2019, 7:46 PM

    @Jim Demps: Because he’s a Connacht player and Anthony is extremely biased towards Connacht players.

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    Mute grandslamkbo
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    Feb 16th 2019, 8:38 PM

    @Ian Verdon: had he led with Ultan Dillane, he would have snapped up 50 recs by now. Dillane was outstanding. Looks like he’s really enjoying his rugby.

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    Mute Ian Verdon
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    Feb 16th 2019, 10:00 PM

    @grandslamkbo: Yeah dillane is back to his destructive best, it’s brilliant to see. His carriers were so explosive tonight and I would love him to start against Italy.

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    Mute Anthony
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    Feb 17th 2019, 12:02 PM

    @Ian Verdon: haha keep biting lads lol

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    Mute rowan hill
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:00 PM

    Lucky lucky boys

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    Mute Oval Digest
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:04 PM

    @rowan hill: A lucky 16 point, 6 try win away? I’ll take it!

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    Mute grandslamkbo
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:43 PM

    @Oval Digest: Yep. They really dicked about in those 10 minutes before half time. Lost composure everywhere and the state of that Dave Kearney ‘tackle’ for the 3rd Zebre try!! Their conference is as good as over but some of the players are trying to get back in the national squad. They need to do much better. But, like you, I’ll take it. Plenty of home games left aswell.

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    Mute mrbryanrussell
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    Feb 16th 2019, 7:14 PM

    10 points from securing 1st place at this stage. The league is brutal at stages (teams not sending teams to win away) tied in with Leinster being very good in others.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Feb 17th 2019, 12:00 PM

    Watched it again, COB , Doris, deagan and moloney where all very good.
    The best player on the pitch was JGP. His box kicks were very good and not for the first time this season set up a box kick and sniped a sneaky pass from the base allowing massive yards

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    Mute Santi Charlie Bravo
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    Feb 16th 2019, 6:32 PM

    You might aswell have called them “Zebra”

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