Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have launched a scathing attack on the club's decision to recruit from bitter rivals Manchester City, with the former stars warning such a move would be "unthinkable" at European giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Old Trafford Icons Voice Outrage
The controversy centres around Jason Wilcox's anticipated appointment as United's new technical director, with the 52-year-old poised to make the controversial switch from Etihad Stadium to Old Trafford after serving as Southampton's director of football.
Scholes, the midfield maestro who won 11 Premier League titles with United, didn't hold back during an explosive appearance on the Overlap podcast. "It wouldn't happen at Barcelona or Real Madrid," he declared, his frustration palpable. "They wouldn't go and take a Real Sociedad coaching team and bring them to Real Madrid."
A Cultural Clash at the Theatre of Dreams
The appointment represents a significant departure from United's traditional approach, with the club now embracing staff who've been instrumental in City's recent dominance. Former CEO Omar Berrada has already made the switch from the blue side of Manchester, while Wilcox's arrival appears imminent.
Butt, another member of United's legendary Class of '92, echoed Scholes' concerns, questioning whether the club was losing its identity in pursuit of success. "Are we just copying City's model because it's worked for them?" he asked rhetorically. "There's something fundamentally wrong when we're raiding our biggest rivals for backroom staff."
The Barcelona and Real Madrid Comparison
Both legends pointed to Spanish football's biggest clubs as examples of how rivals maintain their distinct identities. "Can you imagine Real Madrid taking Barcelona's entire structure?" Scholes questioned. "It would be seen as an admission of failure, of having no ideas of your own."
The former England international emphasised that while player transfers between rivals occasionally happen, the systematic recruitment of backroom staff represents a different level of cultural crossover. "It's not just about one person moving - it's about importing an entire philosophy from your direct competitors," Scholes explained.
United's New Direction Under INEOS
The appointments signal a dramatic shift in United's football operations since Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group took sporting control. The new regime appears determined to implement a data-driven approach similar to City's much-admired structure, even if it means crossing the Manchester divide.
However, Butt warned that success isn't simply about replicating another club's model. "We need to find our own way," he insisted. "United's history is about developing our own talent, creating our own identity. This feels like we're admitting they've got it right and we've got it wrong in every department."
As the revolution at Old Trafford continues, the voices of the club's most successful generation serve as a powerful reminder of the traditions being challenged in the pursuit of modern football success.
