Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confessed he was left stunned by the club's decision to sell academy graduate Scott McTominay to Napoli in the summer of 2024.
Solskjaer's Shock at United's Transfer Decision
The Norwegian, who managed McTominay during his tenure at Old Trafford, revealed his surprise during an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast. United received approximately £30 million for the midfielder's transfer to the Serie A champions.
"I was almost shocked because you need or want a core of the local lads, ones who get the club. Scott did," Solskjaer stated, emphasising the value of homegrown talent understanding the club's culture.
McTominay's Remarkable Transformation in Italy
Since his move to Italy, McTominay's career has soared to new heights. He played a pivotal role in Napoli's Serie A title triumph last season, with his performances earning him an impressive 18th place in the Ballon d'Or rankings.
His statistical impact has been substantial:
- 12 Serie A goals in 34 appearances during his debut campaign
- 4 goals across 14 matches in Serie A and the Champions League this season
- Voted Serie A Player of the Year for his title-winning contributions
The United Chapter and Missed Opportunities
Solskjaer gave McTominay his most extensive run in the United first team, featuring the Scot in 115 matches where he scored 14 goals. However, the former manager believes he couldn't always utilise McTominay in his best position.
"In my squad, Scotty probably wasn't allowed to play in his best position enough, yeah [because of] Bruno and maybe the lack of physicality that we had," Solskjaer explained.
He highlighted specific matches against Leeds where McTominay excelled: "We said: 'Scott, this is a man-to-man game, we want you running through as a third man,' and he scored, two or three, I can't remember how many goals he scored against Leeds."
Contrasting Perspectives on the Transfer
While Solskjaer clearly valued McTominay's presence, former United captain Roy Keane offered a more pragmatic assessment of the transfer.
"I'm always wary when lads leave, for a club like Napoli now but it's a different challenge to Man United and he's done well," Keane remarked. "Good luck to the lad but I still wasn't hanging my hat on him every week going, 'He will be the lad that will bring Man United back.' When you're classing him as a squad player and someone says, 'Here's £30m,' it's not a bad deal."
The contrasting views highlight the ongoing debate about United's transfer strategy and the value of retaining players developed through the club's academy system.
