Rangers player Jack Butland has admitted that it was a “no-brainer” for him to sign for Manchester United under former Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag in 2023.
Jack Butland left Crystal Palace during the 2023 January transfer window and completed a six-month loan deal to Old Trafford for the 2022-23 campaign.
Manchester United had signed Martin Dubravka on loan from Newcastle in the 2022 summer window as a back-up option for David de Gea at the time.
However, Martin Dubravka’s season-long loan spell at Old Trafford was cut short and the Newcastle shot-stopper’s departure paved the way for Butland’s arrival.
Butland on Man Utd spell under Ten Hag
Jack Butland spent the second half of the 2022-23 campaign at Old Trafford and did not make a single appearance for Manchester United during his loan spell.
The 31-year-old former England international played second fiddle to United legend David de Gea and Erik ten Hag didn’t call on Butland for a single minute in his spell.
Despite not making a single appearance for the Red Devils, Butland was thrilled by the opportunity to be at United before his loan deal expired.
The former Crystal Palace and Stoke City player, who is a boyhood United fan, admitted that his spell at United reminded him of what he is “really capable of.”
“It happened in January and it was a no-brainer for me,” Butland told FourFourTwo magazine.
“It was a hell of an experience. I would love to have stepped out on the pitch for them, but I wasn’t prepared to wait for that to happen – careers are short and I had to get back playing. I needed to wrestle some control back.
“It was six months of my life that could prove to be one of the most significant periods I’ve ever had: it reminded me what I’m really capable of, and that’s what gave me the confidence to step away.”
Butland on his injury vs Man Utd
Butland had missed the opening of the 2022-23 campaign for Crystal Palace after he suffered a broken hand in a 3-1 pre-season defeat to United in Melbourne.
The former United player returned to Palace after his Old Trafford spell ended and Butland would leave Selhurst Park in the same summer after his contract expired.
Butland, who signed for Ranges in the 2023 summer transfer window, opened up about his pre-season injury that he suffered against the Red Devils in 2022.
“I happened to break my hand against United during pre-season,” he said.
“The deal was developing in the background and I wasn’t fully aware – hindsight would have made me pull out of that game, potentially.”
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