Nicky Butt believes Manchester United made a mistake in selling a player who is now considered a ‘god’ at his new club.
Man United have been guilty of offloading too many superstars who have gone on to bigger and better things, with some becoming poster boys for how rosy life can be away from Old Trafford.
There is no doubt that Ineos have improved recruitment at the club, but they continue to struggle with outgoings, either failing to get rid of players they don’t want or accepting cut-price fees for those good enough to stay.
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In perhaps the worst example in recent years, United sold a hot favourite among supporters for a bargain price, and the decision has come back to haunt them again.
Ruben Amorim reacts during Manchester United's defeat against Manchester City
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Scott McTominay is a ‘god’ at Napoli after leaving Man United
Club legend Nicky Butt singled out the sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli in August 2024, claiming it was a major mistake because he would have “run through brick walls” for his boyhood side.
Butt told Sky Sports: “Scott would be the first to sit here and say he was not the most gifted and talented footballer on the planet, which I wasn’t, Roy Keane wasn’t. But when you’ve got that kind of drive, which Scott has and obviously Roy had, you get yourself through the levels.
“And that is what Scott has done. Scott had the disappointment of leaving Man United, I felt that was wrong to let him go because he is one of your own, he would run through brick walls for you, a Manchester United fan from a family of Manchester United fans.”
"He'll run through a brick wall for you"
Former Man Utd midfielder Nicky Butt says it's wrong for Scott McTominay to have been let go from the club 🔴 pic.twitter.com/zD5t6j4vzi
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 16, 2025
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Jose Mourinho once said McTominay has “special character”, and he has quickly become an unlikely icon in Naples, so much so that Butt likened him to a “god” at his new club.
“You go there and his picture is on all the walls,” Butt added. “It is great. He has earned all that.
“He has grafted, worked hard, had knockbacks and fair play to him, he is a player now. If he’d stayed, he might have stagnated and never got better.”
Scott McTominay in action for Napoli against Fiorentina in Serie A
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Man United shouldn’t have sold Scott McTominay
McTominay had been on the books at United for over 20 years, having first attended a soccer school at the club aged just five. He then progressed through the academy before breaking into the first team.
But after 255 senior appearances, it was mutually decided that he would leave for a fee of around £25m, a figure which now looks meagre in light of his spectacular performances in Italy.
Former Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer regularly trusted McTominay in the biggest matches during his time in charge, and he was bemused by the decision to sell up.
Solskjaer told BBC Sport: “Scott and Fred together, they were lads you would put your hat on every day to give 100%.
“How you can sell Scott is beyond me.”
United would have been better off keeping McTominay instead of taking the money. Ironically, he looks the ideal candidate to improve Ruben Amorim’s leaky midfield this season.
Yet again, Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be tearing their hair out at another costly misstep.