• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
'I truly couldn't stand it' - former Man Utd midfielder quit the club after players 'who were not as good' played instead of him

Home> Football> Football News> Man Utd

Published 16:44 25 Jan 2025 GMT

'I truly couldn't stand it' - former Man Utd midfielder quit the club after players 'who were not as good' played instead of him

He didn't hold back.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

A former Manchester United player left the club as he "couldn't stand players who were not as good" being picked ahead of him.

Nicky Butt, who graduated from United's academy before making 387 appearances for his boyhood club, lifted eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League during a 12-year spell.

His contribution to one of the club's most successful spells in their history was undoubted as the midfielder featured in their Champions League final win over Bayern Munich in 1999, amongst other major finals.

Advert

But towards the end of his time at Old Trafford, a frustrated Butt became irritated by a lack of first-team minutes.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Mail, the now-Salford City co-owner gave an insight into his Old Trafford departure as he discussed playing a bit-part role under Sir Alex Ferguson.

"[Paul] Scholes and [Roy] Keane were better than me but I always played in the big games because we would play a three in midfield," he said. "So I was okay. Not always dead happy but okay.

"But I truly couldn't stand players who were not as good as me playing instead of me. Kleberson, Djemba-Djemba. Just because they had been bought. I couldn't have it so I left. But it was hard."

Advert

After slipping down the pecking order, Butt ended his 15-year association with United in 2004 before penning a four-year deal with fellow Premier League side Newcastle United.

Butt later revealed that local rivals Manchester City made an approach when he left United.

"When I left United, Man City - Stuart Pearce was in charge - called me to ask me to go" Butt told talkSPORT. "It couldn't really happen because of the dynamic of my life in Manchester and my family, they wouldn't have had a life, so it would have been a disaster first of all.

"It would have been alright for me as I could have got out of the way, but my close family would have had a load of stick."

Advert

Manchester City made an approach for Butt. Image credit: Getty
Manchester City made an approach for Butt. Image credit: Getty

But added: "Arsenal was another one. The big one was Stuart Pearce, he rang me up, but it was never going to happen."

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Erik ten Hag to get rid of Bayer Leverkusen player for the second time after selling him to the club while in charge of Man Utd

    Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag looks poised to get rid of the same player for two different clubs.

    Football
  • 5 hours ago

    Fans lose their minds and say 'announce Yamal' after Barcelona superstar spotted in Premier League club's shirt

    Lamine Yamal sent fans wild this week after being seen in an iconic English football shirt.

    Football
  • 6 hours ago

    Sir Alex Ferguson ripped into former Man Utd star for what he allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to do

    Sir Alex Ferguson lectured the former Manchester United player following the incident with Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Football legend reveals he was on the verge of signing for Man Utd after idolising Old Trafford star for years

    The player represented the likes of Barcelona, Inter and AC Milan during his career but never got the chance to play for Manchester United.

    Football
  • Sir Alex Ferguson ripped into former Man Utd star for what he allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to do
  • Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson refused to speak to the BBC for SEVEN years in bitter dispute over his son
  • Football legend reveals he was on the verge of signing for Man Utd after idolising Old Trafford star for years
  • Steven Gerrard revealed the eight-word question he wants to ask Sir Alex Ferguson after claiming Liverpool legend isn't a 'top, top player