United's Butt asks for a transfer
LONDON, England -- England midfielder Nicky Butt is set to leave Manchester United after requesting a transfer.
"Nicky Butt has asked to leave, it is a very sad situation," United coach Alex Ferguson told the Sun newspaper.
"With Phil Neville and the emergence of Darren Fletcher and Kleberson it has made it difficult to get in the first team."
Butt, who has been at Old Trafford for 12 years, was part of the same generation of players as David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, who emerged from United's youth system to become the dominant team in English football from the mid to late nineties.
He has played 372 times for the English champions, but only made 11 first team appearances this season.
Butt was one of the best performers of England's 2002 World Cup campaign but his lack of regular first team appearances has thrown his place in the national squad for Euro 2004 into question.
Meanwhile, United have delayed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's return from knee surgery.
The Norwegian forward, absent since September, had been set to play in a reserve match on Wednesday, but he has been given a week off before beginning the final stages of his recovery.
