Manchester United icon Nicky Butt has launched a blistering attack on the current state of his former club, delivering a dismal prediction that the Red Devils are at least five to eight years away from being genuine Premier League title contenders again.
A Scathing Assessment from a Club Legend
In a brutally honest interview, the former England midfielder did not hold back, stating he believes 'the club is rotten from the bottom up at the minute.' Butt, who won six Premier League titles with United, pointed the finger squarely at the playing squad, insisting the quality is simply not there for a swift return to the summit of English football.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, Butt argued that not even the game's greatest managers could enact an immediate turnaround at Old Trafford. 'If you brought prime Sir Alex Ferguson back in, he wouldn't be able to turn it around straight away,' he said. 'If you put Pep Guardiola in there, or Jurgen Klopp, it wouldn't work either.'
His core argument centres on recruitment. 'Ultimately, I think the players we're buying and the players that we're able to buy aren't at the level we used to have,' Butt explained, before concluding with his stark timeline: 'It's about accepting the fact that it's going to take five to eight years in order to get the club back to anywhere near winning the Premier League.' He summarised the recent era at United as having 'been a s**tshow.'
Keane's Doubts and Ferguson's Even Gloomier Outlook
Butt is not the only United legend expressing deep concerns. His former teammate Roy Keane has repeatedly voiced scepticism about manager Ruben Amorim, despite the team's improved league position compared to last season's 15th-place finish.
After United's 1-0 win over Newcastle on Boxing Day, Keane told Sky Sports: 'I'm not convinced. He [Amorim] got a pre-season and signings, they have no Europe but they are still not showing it. We are still waiting.' Keane also highlighted persistent defensive frailties, warning: 'If they keep giving up chances and goals like they are, they will never make the next step.'
Perhaps most damningly, legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested an even longer wait for the title. Reflecting on Liverpool's 30-year drought after their period of dominance, Ferguson told Press Box PR: 'It could be 10 years, could be 11... We are now in the same situation.'
Amorim's Response and the Immediate Challenge
When presented with these pessimistic forecasts, current boss Ruben Amorim struck a more optimistic note, albeit while deferring to Ferguson's experience. 'He understands football more than me, especially English football,' Amorim said. 'I think we are not [going to] take that long to win a league... I truly believe that we can fight for the title in the next [few] years.'
The immediate focus for Amorim's side is their Premier League fixture on Tuesday night, where they host Wolverhampton Wanderers. A victory could see United climb as high as fourth in the table, depending on other results.
However, the overarching narrative, fuelled by the club's own legends, is one of a protracted rebuild. The warnings from Butt, Keane, and Ferguson paint a clear picture: despite any short-term upturn, the road back to the top for Manchester United is expected to be a long and arduous one.
