Nicky Butt has no regrets over Manchester United exit despite Roy Keane departure

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has insisted he has no regrets over his departure from Old Trafford, despite potentially missing out on a more regular spot in the side.

Butt left United during the summer transfer window of 2004, having handed in a transfer request six months previously. The former England international had grown frustrated by his lack of opportunities, having found himself behind Paul Scholes and Roy Keane in the pecking order.

The then-29-year-old Butt made the move to Newcastle, having been snapped up for £2.5million by Sir Bobby Robson. He endured a mixed start at St James’ Park, and found himself being loaned out to Birmingham City after a disappointing debut season.

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Doubts about the move may well have been creeping into Butt’s mind when, just over a year after he departed Old Trafford, Keane followed him out of the exit door following his infamous falling-out with Sir Alex Ferguson. The former United captain was abruptly released in November 2005, before going on to join Celtic.

Nevertheless, Butt insists he has no regrets over his departure from his boyhood club. He would eventually go on to win the Newcastle fans over, and was made club captain for their Championship-winning season in 2009/10.

“(I have) no regrets,” Butt told FourFourTwo. “I didn’t know Roy was going to leave. I chatted to Steve McClaren and he said, ‘If they play a three and you’re not one of them, then you have a real problem’.

“That stuck with me and he was right – we did start playing a three in Europe. I went to speak to the manager, who was great with me. He said, ‘It’s not going to look good, this: you don’t