Manchester United icon Nicky Butt has made a dramatic declaration, stating he would surrender his season tickets at Old Trafford if the club appoints Enzo Maresca as their next manager.
United Legend's Stark Ultimatum
The surprising statement came during a discussion on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast. Fellow United great Paul Scholes had floated Maresca's name as a potential candidate for the now-vacant managerial position, noting the Italian's recent departure from Chelsea coincided with Ruben Amorim's exit from United.
Butt, however, immediately interjected with his strong stance. "If Maresca comes in - I like him as a coach, I really do - with the background, I would give my season tickets back," the former midfielder declared.
The Manchester City Connection at Heart of Protest
When Scholes questioned the reaction, suggesting Maresca had done well, Butt clarified his position was not about coaching ability but club allegiance. "You mis-read me. I can't sit here and go on about Man United philosophy and DNA and then go, 'Well I'd love Maresca, an ex-Man City guy,'" Butt explained.
He highlighted the growing trend of figures with connections to United's arch-rivals joining the club's hierarchy, referencing Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox. "I don't care how much success is. You're forgetting where I'm from. Everyone is a City fan. I'm a Man United fan and I can't accept that," he stated emphatically.
Maresca's background is firmly in the blue half of Manchester. He first coached at Manchester City between August 2020 and May 2021, managing the Elite Development Squad. After a short spell at Parma, he returned to City in June 2022, leaving a year later for Leicester City. Reports also suggest he was in discussions about potentially succeeding Pep Guardiola at City while still employed at Chelsea.
Neville Calls for an End to Managerial Experiments
The debate over United's next move comes as another club legend, Gary Neville, has publicly urged the club's decision-makers to stop experimenting with managerial appointments. Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville criticised the recent failed adaptation to a back-three system and called for a return to core principles.
"The experiments have got to stop," Neville insisted. He referenced a famous speech by Sir Bobby Charlton outlining United's DNA as a club that plays adventurous, exciting football and entertains the crowd.
"Man United have got to appoint a manager that fits the DNA of their club. Ajax would never change for anybody, Barcelona would never change for anybody," Neville concluded, setting a clear benchmark for the impending appointment.
The managerial vacancy at Old Trafford opened after the club sacked Ruben Amorim on Monday morning, leaving one of football's biggest jobs up for grabs amidst intense scrutiny and passionate debate from its former stars.
