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Kids are still the future at Manchester United despite the £16m sale of home-grown striker Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley’s loan switch to Aston Villa, according to the famed Class of ‘92.

Nicky Butt, Phil Neville, and assistant manager Ryan Giggs addressed a packed conference hall in Manchester on the final day of the Soccerex Globel Convention and reaffirmed the club’s commitment to youth under Louis van Gaal.

Giggs, who again confirmed his desire to one day become manager, said: “The club will never change. The history of the club is to play exciting football and give youngsters a chance. Danny has left, which is disappointing, but this is a manager who gave Clarence Seedorf, Xavi and Andres Iniesta a chance.

“Tyler Blackett has played every game this season. Players will leave but we have got to make sure that young players come through. Fans demand it. I want to see young players come through. It has been the history of Manchester United and we will never change that.”

Butt, who recalled discussing his future with Sir Alex Ferguson before he was sold to Newcastle in 2004, said the sale of Longsight-born Welbeck, who joined United’s academy at the age of eight, was a result of the position the club finds itself in today.

He believes that the lack of games Welbeck played in his preferred position and a shortage of fixtures due to the absence of Champions League football means the move makes sense.

Butt said: “I think that all clubs are changing but Manchester United still has a vision about youth. The Danny thing is just something that has come at a particular time in the club’s history. Things happen.

“Danny was not playing in the position that he wanted to play at. It was about being fair to the club and the player. They must have had a chat and he moved on. It is not a case of giving up on youngsters. We have got a manager who is a winner. He will get the club where it needs to be and that is winning things.

“There are people working hard to get these young lads through.”

But, when questioned on the prospect of another Class of ‘92 emerging, Butt said: “There could be and there should be but you doubt it would happen in today’s society.

"People want immediate success in two or three years. Sometimes it is six months or they are sacked. Until owners speak to managers and tell them that it is a journey that they are going to go on together over five or six years, I do not think you will see five, six or more players coming through together.”

Giggs, meanwhile, was more optimistic. He held up Rafael da Silva and Adnan Januzaj as examples, although the young Belgian has seen his future threatened by new arrivals.

The Welshman said ‘he hoped’ there would be another Class of ‘92, but stressed he believes the country’s best young players should be allowed to ‘grow together’ in England’s Under-21 sides.

And he even went as far as to question why the likes of Luke Shaw didn’t play for England at the Under-21 championships last year.

“The easy bit is getting into the first team. The hard bit is to stay there,” Giggs said. “The world is changing, but hopefully it will be lads from Salford.”

Neville recalled how ‘pioneer’ Sir Alex delicately dealt with his departure to Everton in 2005, revealing the Scot personally advised him about both the move and the club.

He said: “Danny is not the first and will not be the last home-grown player to leave [Manchester United]. But lads will always get a chance.

"Ryan will be fighting tooth and nail for these kids. It is just that sometimes in your career you have got to move on, just like Sir Alex told me and Butty.”