Manchester United have made some bad sales in recent years, but there are fewer worse than Scott McTominay to Napoli.
The Scotsman departed Manchester United for Naples in 2023, embarking on the Serie A to work with Antonio Conte in Italy.
Little did Scott McTominay know, 12 months later, he’d be immortalised in the city, having won the Scudetto, alongside the MVP award for the division.
SSC Napoli v Cagliari Calcio - Serie A Enilive
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
McTominay is a United regret, that’s for sure. But even with these remarkable accolades, there could be a sale that the Red Devils regret even more – and that’s Alvaro Carreras.
Alvaro Carreras starts off well for Real Madrid
Carreras, formerly Fernandez, has already established himself as a starter in Real Madrid’s side under Xabi Alonso.
At just 22 years old, Carreras has featured in every minute of Madrid’s three La Liga fixtures so far, helping them sit atop the league table.
Their most recent victory came in a 2-1 triumph over Mallorca, with two quick first-half goals securing the three points for Alonso’s side. He also made a crucial block along the way to three points.
Carreras was a shining light throughout and earned rave reviews from his manager.
Alonso said post-match: “I was already following him and was very happy to see him arrive. It wasn’t possible at the World Cup, but it’s now.
“He knows the club, and you expect that to be good, but his level is extraordinary. He does almost everything well.”
Manchester United never gave Alvaro Carreras
United are usually so good at nurturing youth, but they never gave Carreras a shot at Old Trafford. Despite an abundance of issues at left-back over the years, and despite successful loan spells at Preston and Granada, he never played first-team football at Old Trafford.
He then made the switch in 2024 to Benfica for just £5m after another successful loan, which allowed the Portuguese club to exercise on option to buy. Before this summer, Real Madrid swooped in with a £42m purchase.
Starting for Los Blancos at such a young age, it isn’t an outrageous claim to state he could become the world’s best left-back, trumping the McTominay deal indefinitely.
Classy business as always, Red Devils.