Nicky Butt has said Manchester United were right to sell Alejandro Garnacho, questioning the winger’s behaviour during his time at the club.
Garnacho, 21, left Old Trafford last summer in a £40 million move to Chelsea after falling out of favour under former head coach Ruben Amorim.
He returned to face his former side at Stamford Bridge at the weekend but struggled to make an impact as United ran out 1-0 winners.
After the match, a number of United players appeared to aim digs at their former team-mate on social media.
Luke Shaw posted an image of himself pushing Garnacho during the game, while Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee also responded in the comments.
Butt believes those reactions point to deeper issues from Garnacho’s time at the club.
“That’s why that happens when people post things like that,” he said.
“If you are in a changing room and you leave and completely disrespect your team-mates and football club…”
Nicky Butt on Garnacho attitude
Speaking on a podcast, Butt was blunt in his assessment of the winger.
“The best thing for me that Manchester United did was sell him,” he said. “Forget his ability, I don’t think he’s that great anyway.
“However, his attitude for me was a disgrace when he was at United.”
Butt, who previously worked within United’s academy and first-team setup, suggested Garnacho’s behaviour would not have been tolerated in earlier dressing rooms.
“He’d have been taken out every single day in training. He’d have been put in his place very quickly,” he said.
Garnacho struggles after Manchester United move
Garnacho was regarded as one of United’s brightest young players but, according to Butt, rose too quickly without the right checks in place.
“He got above his station way too quick,” he said.
“He got superstar status way too quick. He scored the bicycle kick — which was a phenomenal goal — and then it went like that.”