Nicky Butt has told the club website he wants to see more ‘world class’ talent coming into the academy.
Butt is United’s head of first team development and he has helped oversee the development of stars like Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams.
This season the under-23s and under-18s have both put together strong campaigns, and Butt doesn’t want the club to relax.
He said he wants the club to continue to recruit strongly and give the academy the best possible tools to succeed.
Butt commented: “We’ve got a really good balance of players we’ve brought through and what you would call big names from Europe.
“We’ve got a balance now that we’re happy with, but you’ve got to keep improving, keep getting players, keep the recruitment coming in and keep the world-class talent coming to Man United.”
FA Youth Cup uncertainty
While it may be tempting for the FA to write off the season at academy level at this point, Butt wants a conclusion to be found for the FA Youth Cup.
United are into the semi-finals and are looking to win the prestigious tournament for the first time since 2010.
Butt is calling for a mini-tournament to be held, to reward the players for their performances so far.
He said: “It’s a massive competition for the young kids to have.
“To be in a Youth Cup semi-final and it all stop is disastrous for everyone that’s involved. I’d like to think it’ll get sorted out as and when, there’s no reason why it couldn’t.”
One of the key contributors to United’s FA Youth Cup campaign has been Hannibal Mejbri.
Mejbri signed from Monaco last summer and is a player who is regarded as being ‘world class’ in his age range, just 16.
He is the type of player Butt is referring to in his comments about elite recruitment.
The benefits of signing Mejbri have been clear to see this season, and there is plenty more to come from him.
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