Butt: Keane one of the best

Nicky Butt feels Roy Keane is one of Manchester United's best-ever players.

Nicky Butt feels Roy Keane will be remembered as one of the greatest players Manchester United have ever had.

The Birmingham City midfielder spent many of the glory years at Old Trafford alongside the Irishman and feels the Manchester club must move on as they have done in the past.

Butt does not subscribe to the latest speculation that United would not offer Keane a new contract and refused to hand the captaincy back to him when he recovered from injury.

"I'm not too sure really," he told Sky Sports News. "I don't really know what's going on at United any more, now I'm not there.

"But obviously the radio report says mutual consent so both parties must be happy if it's mutual consent.

"It does seem unthinkable. But ten years ago you said that about Bryan Robson or other great players who have done so much for that club.

"He's been such a great player, a great servant over the years and will be remembered forever at the club."

Butt also feels the situation is different to the shock high-profile departures of Jaap Stam and David Beckham in the past.

"I think, in all fairness to Roy, it's different to those players," said the Blues man, who is on loan from Newcastle United. "He's basically as big a player as the club has had and will probably have for a long time.

"But a club like United always moves on.

"He was one of the best players the club has ever had, as a leader. That is how he will be remembered."