Nicky Butt has shared an unforgettable story from his time at Newcastle United one that began with excitement and ended with a surprising twist involving Sir Alex Ferguson and Michael Owen.
The former Magpies captain truly believed he was about to get a dream call to return to Manchester United, but what followed left him completely stunned.
After six seasons at St James’ Park, Butt had become a respected leader for Newcastle. He joined the club in 2004 and went on to captain them during their Championship-winning 2009/10 campaign before leaving in the summer of 2010.
But before that final season, there was a moment in 2009 that had him thinking his career might take an unexpected turn back to Old Trafford the place where it had all begun.
Butt had enjoyed a glittering career with Manchester United, coming through their famous academy to become part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary squad.
He won 15 major trophies with the Red Devils, including the historic treble in the 1998/99 season. His career at United made him one of English football’s most respected midfielders, and his bond with Ferguson was strong enough that even years later, a call from the legendary manager still carried weight.
In the summer of 2009, Newcastle had just been relegated from the Premier League, and Butt found himself uncertain about what the future held. Then, out of nowhere, his phone rang.
The number was withheld something he immediately recognised. In the world of Manchester United players, that usually meant only one thing: Sir Alex Ferguson was calling.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast with Paul Scholes and Paddy McGuinness, Butt recalled the moment vividly. “When Newcastle got relegated, Michael [Owen] was out of contract so he was officially free,” he said.
“I got a phone call, and the only time my phone ever rings with a withheld number is when it’s the manager Sir Alex. So my phone goes and I’m thinking: ‘He’s coming back in for me here I’m going back to United.’”
Butt admitted that he instantly started picturing what a return might look like. Maybe Ferguson needed some experience in midfield. Maybe it was fate calling him home.
He picked up the phone with nervous excitement. “I said hello, and you always know when it’s the manager because he always has this cough before speaking,” Butt continued. “And you rewind in your mind to all those times you got told off by him but then he just goes, ‘How you doing?’”
Ferguson chatted casually at first, as if catching up with an old friend. Butt was waiting for the moment when the real reason for the call would come.
“He was going around the houses, and I’m thinking: ‘Come on, get to it tell me you want me to come back.’” Then came the curveball. Ferguson finally said, “Talk to me about Michael Owen.”
For Butt, it was an instant letdown. “I thought, ‘For f—s sake,’” he laughed. The call wasn’t about him at all. Ferguson wasn’t planning to bring Butt back to Old Trafford he wanted insider information on Michael Owen, Butt’s Newcastle teammate at the time.
Owen, who had just left Newcastle on a free transfer, was considering his next move. His time on Tyneside hadn’t gone as planned, and his departure had left fans divided.
For Ferguson, though, the prospect of bringing Owen to Manchester United was intriguing. He needed someone with Owen’s finishing instincts, even if the player’s best years were behind him.
Ferguson asked Butt directly if Owen still had what it took to perform at the top level. Butt replied honestly: “Yeah, he’s an unbelievable finisher. He doesn’t have the legs he used to, but it’s a no-brainer. He’ll score you goals and he’s out of contract.”
After hanging up, Butt wasted no time calling Owen. “I phoned Michael up and said, ‘Get on your phone.’ He asked why, and I told him Sir Alex wants to sign you. So, if you talk about chats, I was part of the chat for Michael going to United.”
Owen did end up joining Manchester United that summer on a free transfer one of the more surprising moves of the 2009 window. It was controversial, especially among Liverpool fans who had once idolised him. But for Owen, it was a chance to reignite his career at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
His spell at Old Trafford lasted three seasons. Though he made only 31 appearances, he managed to collect a Premier League and a League Cup winner’s medal adding to his long list of career honours.
His time there wasn’t marked by many goals, but he did produce one unforgettable moment: his dramatic late winner in the 4-3 derby victory against Manchester City in 2009.
For Butt, the story remains a light-hearted memory a reminder of just how unpredictable football can be. What started as an exciting moment of hope for a personal comeback turned into an amusing twist where he became the middleman in one of the most talked-about transfers of that era.
Reflecting on it now, Butt laughs about the misunderstanding. “I really thought I was going back to United,” he said, “but instead, I helped get Michael there instead.”
It was a perfect example of how football stories rarely unfold the way players expect and how one phone call from a legendary manager can still make even a seasoned professional’s heart skip a beat.
