Jack Butland should be playing for Manchester Utd, says Rangers icon.

The former center half, who played a major role in the Ibrox club’s 1990s dominance of Scottish football and completion of Nine-In-A-Row, has been pleased with the defense play of Philippe Clement’s team since the Belgian manager took over in October. In the 17 league games they have played under Clement, James Tavernier and his teammates have only given up seven goals. If they defeat struggling Ross County by three goals in Govan tomorrow evening, they will move to the top of the Scottish Premiership.

They have allowed just 12 goals in total in the Premiership, five less than Celtic, the current leaders of the top flight and the defending champions. Brown feels that Rangers’ newfound defensive stability is largely down to Butland, who came on a free transfer from Crystal Palace prior to the 2023–24 season. He expressed surprise that United decided not keep the 30-year-old, who was on loan from Inter Milan the previous season, for longer. Since signing the Cameroonian goalie for £43.8 million in 2023, Andre Onana has committed a number of expensive, high-profile errors.

“The biggest thing you need is a quality goalkeeper and Rangers have that,” Brown stated yesterday at a promotional event for the Rangers Youth Development Company and their Union Jackpot half-time draw at Ibrox. Half the battle is won there.It’s not so simple to be a great center back or full back if your goalkeeper isn’t on the same level as people I worked with, like Allan McGregor, Andy Goram, or Stefan Klos.

Butland plays goalkeeping for the national team. He is new and hasn’t played a lot of minutes in the past seasons. But his quality is apparent. “With certain keepers I played with, I won’t name them, but we would be going deeper to protect them rather than having faith that if there’s going to be a shot from 25 yards we’re comfortable they can make the save,” he tells the backline as he emerges. This season, he has likely been among the Rangers’ finest players.

“I was always a fan of Butland,” the Rangers ambassador continued. It astonished me that he was never able to get more time south. There are many goalkeepers in the English Premier League that, in my opinion, Jack Butland is superior to.He was Manchester United’s first choice goalie, in my opinion. If my preference was for a reliable goalie, Jack Butland would be my pick. It’s great for the club that we got him.”

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