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Kalvin Phillips reveals message from midfield icon Andrea Pirlo
Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has revealed he received a good luck message from Andrea Pirlo ahead of the Euro 2020 final.
The Yorkshire Pirlo started the showpiece game at Wembley in July against Italy, who lifted the trophy after winning on penalties.
Pirlo used to play alongside current Leeds man Jack Harrison at New York City FC, who passed the video on to Phillips before the major final.
Speaking via the Daily Mail, Phillips shared the moment that left him stunned ahead of one of the biggest games of his career.
“I just got the video the night before the final and I was like ‘’Oh my God!’”, he said.
“It was a video to me saying good luck in the final and he wishes me all the best. It was a very nice feeling. Obviously, I thought it was going to say something about Italy but, no. He wished me well. Full respect for that.
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“I’ve never met him, I’d like to meet him to be honest. I’ve seen he’s a very cool guy, but I’ve heard he’s a nice guy as well. To have someone on the other side, on the other team, wish you well and especially a player like that, it is always a great feeling.”
A glowing endorsement
If you are getting a good luck message from one of the greatest ever players in your position, then you know you must be doing something right.
Pirlo won almost everything there was to win in his glittering playing career, including six Serie A titles, two Champions League crowns and the FIFA World Cup.
Phillips himself has been nicknamed ‘the Yorkshire Pirlo’, with his performances for Leeds establishing him as one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old is also now a first-choice starter for England, forming a strong partnership with Declan Rice as the pair began every game together at Euro 2020.
Phillips has been linked with a move to Manchester United and Liverpool in recent weeks and will likely have aspirations of playing in the Champions League like Pirlo.
Leeds could struggle to hold onto him if that is the case, with the Whites currently struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
In other Leeds United news, Paul Merson has dropped a huge transfer claim on one Whites star with an imminent exit on the cards