Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has delivered a stark verdict on the club's future, calling for the next manager to discard £50 million signing Manuel Ugarte and seriously consider appointing Michael Carrick as the permanent successor to the sacked Ruben Amorim.
Amorim's Departure and the Search for a New Boss
The search for a new leader at Old Trafford is underway after the club confirmed the departure of head coach Ruben Amorim on Monday, January 5, 2026. Amorim, who arrived with a stellar reputation after winning two league titles with Sporting CP, was dismissed following public criticism of the club's hierarchy.
His 14-month tenure proved deeply disappointing, with United finishing a lowly 15th in the Premier League last season and showing only sporadic signs of improvement in the current campaign. Former midfielder Darren Fletcher will take temporary charge, starting with Wednesday's match against Burnley, until a caretaker is appointed for the remainder of the season.
A permanent appointment is now expected in the summer, with Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner reportedly the frontrunner. However, Butt has put forward a compelling case for an internal candidate.
Butt's Plea for a 'United' Appointment
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, the former United midfielder argued that the club's next manager must have a deep-rooted connection to Old Trafford. He believes the board, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, should turn to his former teammate.
"I honestly think the next Man United manager should have a connection to the club," Butt stated. "We could do a lot worse than Michael Carrick. I know people will laugh at that and say he hasn’t managed at the highest level before. But he knows the football club inside and out, he’s very calm, he’s a United legend and he did a good job at Middlesbrough."
Carrick, who had a successful three-year spell at Middlesbrough before leaving last summer, has prior experience in the United hot seat, having served as caretaker manager on two separate occasions following the departures of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
A Scathing Verdict on Big-Money Flop
Whoever eventually gets the job, Butt was unequivocal about one piece of business that must be addressed: moving on midfielder Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan international was signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £50 million in 2024 but has failed to justify his price tag.
Butt's assessment was brutally frank: "Ugarte is not a Manchester United midfielder in a million years. Not in a million years he’s a Man United midfielder. That’s just one example of the recruitment and how they keep getting it wrong. They keep getting it wrong all the time with the players they’re bringing in and that’s a fact."
In its statement, the club thanked Amorim for his contribution, which included leading United to the 2025 UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao. However, with the team currently sitting sixth in the Premier League, the hierarchy decided a change was necessary to secure the highest possible finish.
The coming months will be critical for Manchester United as they seek to stabilise on the pitch and make a defining appointment off it, with the words of one of their own legends now firmly part of the conversation.
