Curtis Jones has revealed that a desire to win trophies drove his decision to leave Liverpool for Inter Milan, admitting the Serie A champions were the only club he wanted to join once he had made up his mind to depart Anfield.
The England international won two Premier League titles, the League Cup, the FA Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup during his time at Liverpool. However, he was an unused substitute in the FA Cup and FIFA Club World Cup finals, as well as in the 2022 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, and was not in the matchday squad for the League Cup finals in 2022 or 2024, the latter absence due to injury.
Jones still made 228 appearances in eight seasons for Liverpool, scoring 22 goals and registering 22 assists. That record was not enough to resist the lure of the reigning Serie A champions, who have won three Serie A titles and three Coppa Italias in the past five years, as well as reaching two Champions League finals.
Winning mentality at the San Siro
Asked by DAZN, as quoted by FC Inter 1908, what his goal was at Inter, Jones said: "Simply winning. I want to win. I want to be part of a winning team."
He added: "I have great faith in the guys around me. I don't want to be the one who just says: 'I want to score all the goals, I want to make all the assists'. Of course, I want to score, make assists, and help the team. But the quality of the players I've seen around me is extraordinary. I know opportunities like this will come. But above all, I want to be part of a winning team, come in and make my contribution."
Inter was always the choice
Jones said the decision to leave Liverpool was not a difficult one once Inter came calling. "It makes me feel really good to know that such a great team has placed their trust in me, giving me the chance to come here and be part of the team. Because, in any case, my choice has always been Inter," he said.
He continued: "I know the club's history, the players, the great champions, and everyone who has worn this shirt. But I've always been a Liverpool boy, I've always been attached to my club and its history. Then, walking into that (trophy) room (when I signed), I saw how much gold there was and how many trophies this club had won. It was truly crazy, incredible. I will give everything for Inter and try to win as many trophies as possible for this club."
Jones also explained his choice of the number 21 shirt at Inter, revealing there were two reasons behind it. "That's the day I signed here in Milan: it was the 21st. It was an incredible day," he said. "So yes, let's say that the number 21 and Inter, with its 21st Scudetto, are a very good match."
