Louis Sealey
Published November 25, 2025 11:18am
Updated November 25, 2025 11:18am
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Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt (Picture: YouTube)
Nicky Butt has revealed he was part of a meeting with former Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward in which four superstar signings were discussed – but only one came to fruition.
Woodward sought the advice of United legends Butt, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs as he was drawing up plans for the summer transfer window in 2014.
Giggs had been appointed as United’s interim manager towards the end of that season following David Moyes’ sacking and added Butt and Scholes to his coaching staff.
Woodward arranged a meeting with the United greats to discuss a new midfielder signing and asked them about Paul Pogba, Toni Kroos, Cesc Fabregas and Luka Modric.
Butt says the coaches advised Woodward to sign both Pogba and Kroos but the club decided to go ‘all out’ for the former.
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Manchester United paid a world-record fee of £89m to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford after his four years at Juventus.
Signing Real Madrid legends Kroos and Modric and former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Fabregas was also discussed but United prioritised Pogba, although that did not secure his services for another two years.
Paul Pogba returned to Old Trafford in 2016 (Picture: Getty)
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt said: ‘I remember me, you [Scholes] and Giggs had a chat with Ed Woodward in the office.
‘It was during Giggs’ time in charge, I got called back after training and they asked us who we should get, Pogba or Kroos.
‘We said, “get both, we’re Man United, buy both of them”, but they just got Pogba. They were looking for a new manager at the time but also targets for the summer.
Cesc Fabregas was discussed by United’s board (Picture: Getty)
‘There was a list of midfielders – Pogba, Kroos, Fabregas and Modric were on there. We were discussing pros and cons and we said they should get Pogba and Kroos.
‘We said we’re Manchester United and need to get back to the top so sign both of them. That’s how it was left and then they obviously went all out for Pogba.’
Pogba endured a frustrating spell back at Old Trafford and returned to Juventus in 2022 on a free transfer.
Ex-Man Utd chief executive Ed Woodward (Picture: Getty)
Butt and Scholes were both full of praise for Pogba’s attitude while they were at the club and were unsure why he failed to justify his huge price-tag.
‘I didn’t know him that well during his first spell but when he came back I met him a few times and he was a really good lad,’ Butt added.
‘It was a weird time for the club because they were signing all of these superstars. The club made a rod for their own back because they built this commercial monster and then didn’t like the fact he was getting too big.
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‘When he came back and they set this studio up and there was three days of filming for Pogba coming back… It was a bit much. He was a superstar at Juve and was the top player but it was too much.’
Scholes, meanwhile, said: ‘He was a young player when I knew him and a really nice person and a talented player.
‘You could tell he was going to be a proper player because he was a talented kid. He was big and powerful – you didn’t want to go anywhere near him on the pitch.
‘I was excited when he came back but maybe his attitude wasn’t the same – I don’t know.’
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