Nicky Butt says Manchester United must regret letting academy graduate Angel Gomes leave as the midfielder continues to thrive in France.
Gomes joined the academy at age six, and was tipped for big things after making his debut for the first-team in 2017, aged just 16.
However, the midfielder found opportunities limited under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, making just ten appearances in all competitions before leaving the club on a free transfer.
After United, Gomes joined French club Lille and has flourished in a deeper midfield role, even earning his maiden call-up to England’s senior squad under Lee Carsley in 2024.
United were linked with a move for Gomes in the summer after he signalled his intention to leave Lille, but the 25-year-old instead opted to remain in France and sign with Marseille.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
‘They have just sold two of the academy products who are now shining at other clubs – Rashford and McTominay,’ Butt told The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
‘And the former United midfielder was quick to add Gomes to that list, remarking: ‘He’s absolutely flying at Marseille.’
Gomes is one of several United academy graduates who have gone on to enjoy success away from the pressure-cooker environment at Old Trafford.
And Butt, himself a member of the famed Class of ’92, says serious changes are needed at Carrington to get United’s academy back to its best.
‘With hindsight, it is easy to say, and it’s easier for two old Man United players who came through the academy to say ‘that’s rubbish, that’s not great’,’ he said.
‘But I’m telling you know – and I don’t care what anyone says, I don’t care if I get slagged off for saying it – Man Utd is like Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona: they are institutions, not just football clubs.
‘And I don’t care who comes into the football club, unless you have people that know what it takes to get from there to there [the academy to the first team], then you are p****** against the wind.’
Butt’s former teammate, Paul Scholes, went further, saying: ‘Think of who we had watching us when we came through.
‘We had Bobby Charlton in his suit, looking smart, representing the club and watching us train.
‘Bryan Robson came and watched us train, Dennis Irwin, Nobby Stiles as our coach, Brian Kidd.
‘The coaches and the people behind the scenes were riddled with the history of the club. I don’t see any of that now.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.