'I'm a Man Utd icon – Liverpool, Arsenal & Man City all wanted me after I left'

Manchester United icon Nicky Butt had the opportunity to join rivals Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal when leaving Old Trafford, but declined.

Perhaps a lesser piece of the Class of 92’ puzzle, midfielder Butt was pivotal to Sir Alex Ferguson’s unconquerable Red Devils during the 1990s and early 2000s – lifting eight Premier League titles, a trio of FA Cups and the Champions League in 1999.

A decade on from his senior debut, Butt decided to call time on his illustrious United tenure – one year after David Beckham made his Real Madrid move – switching to Newcastle in 2004 before eventually returning to Carrington in a range of roles with the club's academy.

However, speaking to ex-colleague Paul Scholes, Butt revealed that he could have trodden a very different path had he opted to take up the various offers from his long-time employer's rivals.

“I remember when I was leaving United - when I knew it was time to leave - I got asked to join City off Stuart Pearce, he rang me up!” Butt told former team-mate Scholes on their Football's Greatest podcast. “I said: ‘I'll have a think about it.’ But I knew: ‘No, it can’t happen.’ I just wanted to get him off the phone, to be fair!

“There was no way I was going because of my dynamic in my house. My family life would have been... I’m all right. I’m out the way, but my brother and all that. It would have been a nightmare. I would never have been able to play for City.

“I got asked to speak to Liverpool - never gonna happen. Arsenal - never gonna happen. I knew my mind was set on Newcastle. So for me, the real rivalry thing for United would have been impossible. Liverpool was impossible, yeah. No matter what they were gonna give you."

Butt played out six topsy-turvy years with the Magpies – briefly interrupted by a loan move to long-time admirers Birmingham City under former team-mate Steve Bruce - before a swansong 10-appearance year in China.

The trio of Premier League giants weren't the only ones courting the tenacious midfielder when his United days were numbered, however, but Butt only had eyes for St. James’s Park.

"Tottenham [also] asked me,” Butt added. “But I just wasn’t interested. I was interested in joining Newcastle because I’d played there for England U19s and loved the atmosphere.

“It wasn’t too far from Manchester, there was no real hatred between the fans, Sir Bobby (Robson) was a god and the first team was very good. They should have qualified for the Champions League, but it wasn’t to be.

“I had a tough start. I was injured when I first signed – I just didn’t tell the club that. But I was Newcastle’s captain for two years. It wasn’t too bad.”