The 2024/25 campaign was a difficult one for John Stones at Manchester City.
The England international only managed to make 11 Premier League appearances last season as injuries regularly occurred, even considering retirement as the niggling fitness issues took their toll both mentally and physically.
Recently, the Manchester City No.5 told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Last season was very tough for me, to the point where I thought about stopping.”
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These comments from John Stones ended up being discussed on The Wayne Rooney Show – where the Manchester United legend admitted his surprise at the revelation.
Wayne Rooney expresses sympathy for John Stones
The 39-year-old said: “That’s a surprise to hear him say that, but that’s what it can do to you when you keep getting injured. It’s hard because you want to play and you’re seeing your teammates going out and training every day and playing in big games. It can have an effect on you and you do start thinking of different things.
“I was fortunate and I never really had big injuries. But I’ve seen players who have injuries and it’s hard – you’re going in every day and you’re in the gym and your teammates are out on the pitch, it can be stressful.”
Stones – who Harry Kane admires – has never actually managed to make more than 27 appearances in a single campaign for Manchester City following his £47.5m move from Everton in August 2016.
Pep Guardiola now needs to be even more careful with the Barnsley academy graduate, as he turned 31 in May and has still experienced some further fitness issues in the current campaign – notably missing the Manchester derby with an injury.
John Stones is playing for his Manchester City future this season
The man born in Barnsley sees his contract expire at the end of the season, so he needs to prove his fitness to Manchester City.
Stones earns £250,000-a-week at the Etihad Stadium, and the Citizens will presumably not want to extend such a deal if the defender is not guaranteed to be available on a weekly basis.
TBR Football understand Everton considered bringing Stones back to Merseyside during the summer transfer window, so a return to the Toffees could be an option if Manchester City decide against a contract extension.
If this season turns out to be another nightmarish one for the Manchester City fan favourite – however – he may even hang up his boots instead of joining Everton after what he admitted to BBC Radio 5 Live.