When Sir Alex calls you but it’s not because of you

When you say ‘Sir Alex Ferguson’ the first thing that comes to your mind are Manchester United and their domination in England. They you think about the famous treble in the 1998/99 season. And then you think about all Manchester Academy kids who became stars under Ferguson and won all those titles. There were many of them during the Scot’s 25+ years at Old Trafford, but the generation of 1992 was among the best. Players like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and the Neville brothers made United really famous before players like Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea, Kieran Richardson and others came. Some of them stayed in Manchester throughout their career and some of them left, like Nicky Butt. And at one point he though the might be back, especially when he heard Ferguson on the other side of the phone, but…

'If we don't win the league, it's because of these two a**holes'

Butt left Manchester in June 2004 and spent six seasons at St James' Park, including Newcastle’s Championship run in 2010. After that he left as a free player to South China, where he managed only three appearances before retiring. But one year before he left Newcastle, he got a phone call from his old boss Ferguson.

"When Newcastle got relegated, Michael was out of contract so he was officially free. I got a phone call and the only time my phone ever rings when it is a withheld number is when it is the manager, Sir Alex. So my phone goes and I'm thinking: 'He's coming back in for me here and I'm going back to United'. I said hello and you always know when the manager is on the phone because he always has a cough first. He goes: 'How you doing?” recalled Butt on his ‘The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast’ with former United team-mate Paul Scholes and comedian Paddy McGuinness.

How Paul Ince sent himself out of Man United: I told Sir Alex to f**k off

What Butt was expected was a call to come back to the club for which he won 15 trophies, including a famous 1999 treble. But it wasn’t meant to be. In fact, Sir Alex only wanted to know if Michael Owen was in good form. As it was 2009 and Newcastle were relegated, former Real and Liverpool star was about to leave the club as a free agent and Ferguson wanted him.

"And he was going around the houses and I'm thinking: 'Come on, get to it. Tell me you want me to come back'. And he says: 'Talk to me about Michael Owen', and I thought: 'For f---s sake'. He was asking if he still had what it takes and I said: 'Yeah, he is an unbelievable finisher, he doesn't have the legs he used to but it is a no-brainer, he will score you goals and he is out of contract'. I phoned Michael up and said: 'Get on your phone'. He asked why and I told him Sir Alex wants to sign you. So if you talk about chats, I was part of the chat for Michael going to United" revealed Butt.