Former winger Lee Sharpe has claimed that Manchester United academy star Kobbie Mainoo is 'better' than both Sofyan Amrabat and Casemiro.
20.11.2023 - 19:01 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Alexander Buttner has admitted he was in a local chip shop with a group of friends when he discovered Manchester United wanted to sign him, confessing that he thought it was a prank.
Following a series of impressive performances for Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem, the defender started to attract interest from several English clubs, such as QPR and Southampton. However, against all odds, he sealed a move to Old Trafford in August 2012, putting pen to paper on a five-year contract.
The now 34-year-old, who plays for De Graafschap, thought the whole situation was a prank, so much so that he almost put the phone down on his agent, who was informing him of United's interest in getting a deal over the line. They signed him for £5million and he made a total 28 appearances for the club, chipping in with two goals and three assists, before leaving in 2014.
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More than a decade on from his arrival at Old Trafford, the former Netherlands Under-21 international has opened up about the moment he learnt of United's interest, revealing he was in a chip shop with a group of friends. He said the chip shop went 'upside down', such was the scale of the celebrations in response to his news.
"I was eating a big portion of chips with some mates and my brother when I got this call from my agent," admitted Buttner. "It was quite weird because a few weeks before, I had been looking at clubs of a completely different level in England. Southampton, Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers.
"I was going to sign with one of those clubs, I thought. Now suddenly I was wanted by Manchester United?
"I thought it was
Former winger Lee Sharpe has claimed that Manchester United academy star Kobbie Mainoo is 'better' than both Sofyan Amrabat and Casemiro.
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