Nicky Butt Reveals Secrets About Sir Alex Ferguson and Talks Manchester United Future

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson stopped him from playing for England.

He believes that he could have won more caps for England had he not been asked to pull out of the squad as instructed by the manager.

"He never once said to me to fake an injury," Butt said, as quoted in the Mirror.

"He'd just say 'You've got an England friendly coming up and you're not going'. And that was that."

"At one stage there was nine of us and he would pull one or two of us out and let the other six go," the former United player added.

Butt also went on to join the discussion on United abandoning their youth policy after letting academy product Danny Welbeck leave the club and join Premier League rivals Arsenal on transfer deadline day.

"The Welbeck thing is just something that came at a certain time in the club's history and so people are saying the club has forgotten about its history," Butt said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

"The club's priority now is to win things so, unfortunately, other things take a step back, but there are people working all the hours God sends to bring kids through."

However, the former England international maintains that there will not be another group that comes out of the club to follow in the footsteps of the Class of 92.

"I don't think it will happen in today's society,' he said. 'A lot of foreign owners want immediate success with superstar managers and only give them six months to get results," Butt continued.

"Until owners tell managers they are on a journey that may take five, six, even nine years, then I don't think you'll see six or even three players from the same group coming through."

The former United midfielder agrees that the club have a proven manager, who can win titles with United, but maintains that Louis van Gaal will not remain in the long term. He believes that the Dutchman will depart once his three-year contract with the club expires.

'We've got a manager who is a proven winner, but it (United) is a short-term thing for him. He has signed a three-year deal and is going to be here for that length of time," Butt concluded.