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Fabian Delph insists Pep Guardiola did not push him out of Manchester City and that it was his own choice to go.

England midfielder Delph is loving life at Everton since joining last week for a fee of just £8.5million, and he revealed he left the champions in the hope of playing more regular football to boost his Three Lions selection prospects.

Although Delph played in both Nations League finals matches against Holland and Switzerland last month, he knows he will need more game time in the coming season to hang on to his place for next summer's Euro 2020 finals.

“I wasn’t told to leave, I could have stayed there,” said Delph, who won two Premier League titles with City but started just eight league games last season. “They were happy with me and I played a key role within that squad.

(Image: Everton FC via Getty)

“I had a fantastic four years at City, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I won a lot of trophies, made a lot of good friends and I’m sad to leave but at the same time, I’ve got to look forward and I need to play more regularly.

“I’d done four years and it was the right time to leave. I wanted a new challenge. I wanted to play more football, to play more regularly, and this is a great challenge. Playing for England is massive for me, it’s something which is really important for me, so if I’m playing more regularly, there’s more chance of me being selected.”

Delph did not make another league start after getting sent off in a Boxing Day defeat at Leicester, but insists he had no issue with Guardiola and says the Spaniard wished him well when he left City.

(Image: Getty)

At 29 and with 20 caps to his name, Delph could prove to be the best deal of the transfer window and wants to be a leader for Everton.

A typical Yorkshireman, he is not afraid to speak his mind and features in Amazon’s All Or Nothing documentary about the Blues, laying into his team-mates withan X-rated verbal barrage after letting a 2-0 lead slip in losing to Manchester United in April 2018.

Delph admits now to being embarrassed by his language but says he will be just as vocal in the Everton dressing room.

It is one of the reasons why Everton signed him — they need leaders following the departure of club captain Phil Jagielka.

(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

“I’ve not watched it. I don’t like watching myself effing and blinding — I’ve got young kids that are probably going to end up seeing that,” he said. “I’ve been vocal since I was 18 at Leeds United. I’ve always been quite emotional because I don’t really like losing.

“I want everybody, including myself, to be working hard, working towards the same goal, If something isn’t right, I think it’s only right you voice it rather than going into your shell and not speaking about it.”

The pessimists among Evertonians fear Delph has been signed as a replacement for Idrissa Gueye, whose starring role for Senegal at the recent Africa Cup of Nations will have added to his appeal.

(Image: Getty)

There have been no fresh approaches to the club for Gueye since Paris Saint-Germain’s failed bid in January, and Delph hopes they can team up in the coming season, adding: “I’ve played against him numerous times, he’s a fantastic player and I would love to be playing with him so hopefully he stays.”

He is also relishing the Goodison Park support — after years of being abused by them when playing for Aston Villa and City.

“This is a fantastic club,” he said, smiling. “It’s always been one of my favourite stadiums to play at, the fans being right on top of you. It’s a very hostile place to play and it’ll be nice to have them behind me rather than jumping down my throat.”