Saturday, 25th August, 2012
Manchester United first team coach Rene Meulensteen has revealed that it was he who recommended Sir Alex Ferguson buy left-back Alexander Buttner.
The Dutchman arrived at Old Trafford this week from Eredivisie outfit Vitesse – and the move was a surprise throughout Holland, given Buttner had mainly been linked with smaller clubs, including Southampton.
But Meulensteen has admitted he persuaded Ferguson to jump in for the defender, based on the potential he has recognised in the 23-year-old.
"We see him as an aggressive, confident player who is always thinking ahead", Meulensteen told Voetbal International.
"That fits in well here. We have bought him for the potential we see in him. With a view to the future.
"It is no accident that he was called up for Holland. Besides this, I am always watching what is happening in the Netherlands.
"Therefore, I recommended him to the manager when I heard his name. He’s not bad I said."
The Manchester United coach is not expecting overnight results from Buttner though and stresses that life at Old Trafford is a world away from what he has known at present.
"With us Buttner will do high-level training, perhaps three, four, even five steps higher than he is accustomed to."
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