The decision by Manchester United to sell academy graduate Scott McTominay to Napoli in 2024 is looking increasingly questionable as the Scottish midfielder continues to excel in Italy while his former club faces ongoing challenges.
The Transfer That Raised Eyebrows
In August 2024, Manchester United accepted a bid from Napoli worth €30 million (£25.4 million) for Scott McTominay, then 28. The move immediately drew criticism from within the club, including from former teammate Nemanja Matic, who took to social media platform X to voice his disapproval.
"My opinion is that #manutd made a mistake by selling Scott McTominay, today it is difficult to replace a player like him," the Serbian midfielder posted. "Conte is smart man."
Immediate Success in Serie A
McTominay's impact in Naples was both instant and profound. Under the management of Antonio Conte, who deployed him in a more advanced midfield role, the Scotland international helped Napoli clinch the Serie A title and remarkably won the league's Player of the Year award.
His statistical output has been impressive, with 17 goals in 50 appearances for the Italian club. This transformation has consistently highlighted what Manchester United are missing in their midfield, particularly given their well-documented struggles since his departure.
Managerial Regret and Financial Reality
Then-manager Erik ten Hag, who was sacked just two months after McTominay's sale, subsequently admitted that he had not wanted the player to leave. The Dutchman pointed to the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) as a significant factor in the decision.
"Selling a graduate is considered 100 per cent profit under current PSR rules and United sorely needed the cash. Unfortunately, it's the rules," Ten Hag bemoaned. "You have to discuss the rules to do sales and obviously homegrown players, academy players, bring more value."
He expressed mixed feelings about the transfer, stating, "I'm very happy for him and for us, but it's mixed [feelings] because I would have preferred not to lose him. He has Manchester United in his veins... He was so important for our team, he was at Manchester United for over 22 years."
International Brilliance and Moving On
McTominay's exceptional form has extended to the international stage with Scotland. He recently demonstrated his talismanic qualities by scoring a marvellous bicycle kick to give his nation the lead in a crucial winner-takes-all World Cup qualifier against Denmark. Scotland went on to win the dramatic encounter 4-2 at Hampden Park.
Reflecting on his departure from Manchester United, McTominay described it as a mutual decision. "It was a case of - there's an opportunity there, do you want to go?" he explained. "Obviously I know from their side FFP is difficult. It's not easy for clubs to make a decision in regards to homegrown players, but that was never in my thought process."
The midfielder, who spent 22 years with United from the academy onwards, confirmed his exit was amicable. "I spoke to him [Ten Hag]. He expressed his thoughts on the situation. I said, 'Listen it's my career, I am here to push myself on'. In this situation, I have to look out for number one and go with my gut feeling... I love that football club to bits, they have been my life for 22 years, but I have moved on now. I am thoroughly enjoying myself here."
The success story of Scott McTominay at Napoli continues to unfold, serving as a poignant reminder of a player United developed but ultimately decided to cash in on, a decision that several key figures at the club evidently disagreed with at the time.
