Nicky Butt breaks silence on Glazers decision to put Manchester United up for sale

Hopeful for the future as uncertainty remains over Manchester United takeover. Nicky Butt claims that investment into the club can only be a good thing as the Glazers proceed with takeover talks.

It has almost been a month since the Glazer family confirmed plans to put Manchester United up for sale as they seek new investment in the club, 17-years on from their leveraged takeover.

Those close to the situation believe the Glazers would prefer a full sale of the club, but there is room for a partial sale, with the American family remaining in control.

Former Manchester United midfielder Butt, who made 384 appearances for United, has suggested that investment is needed at United if he former club are to compete at the very top again.

“It’s going to take a lot of due diligence and a few months to get it sorted, maybe years,” Butt told ManchesterWorld. “The good thing is the owners have realised that they need to bring investment back into the club, whether that’s full investment by selling the whole lot, or it’s a small percentage of the club, it’s good for everyone.”

“We’re the biggest football club in the world and Manchester United should not be in debt and struggling.”

Butt no longer at Manchester United

Following his retirement, Butt spent nine years at United in various coaching roles before leaving in March 2021. During that time he worked under Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

In an interview with Andy Mitten for The Athletic, Butt explained he was getting frustrated with his role at United.

“When I get frustrated in a role or a job, as I did, I’m a different kind of person,” Butt said. “I become irritable, not happy. I blame everybody else. The same thing happened to me as a player. When I start getting that feeling, I need to get out.

“As a player, I saw people I thought I was better than — in fact, I knew was better than — playing rather than me and that made me miserable. I wasn’t happy with my training, I would come home miserable. It was time to leave United as a player and that’s why I spoke to the manager then.

“This time, I was getting irritated about some of the stuff going on at the club. I felt irritable within myself. I needed to change. Most people don’t leave Man United unless they have something lined up. I had nothing lined up. I just knew my personality, how I react to things and that it was time to leave.

“I didn’t know where my next step was at the club. I wanted to evolve and one day I woke up and thought, ‘This isn’t for me any more.’ If I’d stayed, it would have gone one way which would have been bad.

“I did the right thing and got myself out of the club I loved in the right way. I left amicably. I spoke to Ed Woodward (executive vice-chairman), who was great with me. We shook hands and I walked away. That was March and I don’t regret it.

“It will always be my club and I wish Manchester United all the best.”

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