Scott McTominay has been showing Manchester United what they've been missing thanks to his stunning Napoli form, and David Beckham thinks there's a lesson to be learned
David Beckham
David Beckham appears to have hit out at Manchester United's decision to sell Scott McTominay(Image: AP)
David Beckham has seemingly taken aim at Manchester United's decision to offload Scott McTominay. The 50-year-old, who, like McTominay, rose through United's academy ranks, said he "hates" seeing top quality youngsters being sold "purely for financial reasons".
McTominay, now thriving at Napoli, made over 250 appearances for United before being sold for just £25.7million last summer, with then-manager Erik ten Hag claiming the move was necessary to help balance the club's books. Since making the switch to Italy, the Scotland international has been in scintillating form, playing a key role in Napoli's charge toward the Serie A title.
With 18 goal contributions in all competitions, he's earned the nickname "the bottle opener" for his knack of scoring crucial breakthrough goals. United, meanwhile, have endured a disastrous campaign. With 18 league defeats and just two places separating them from the relegation zone, the club are staring down the barrel of their worst domestic finish in decades.
Speaking to The Athletic, Beckham underscored the importance of nurturing and retaining academy graduates "who understand the club." While he didn't mention McTominay by name, the timing and context of his remarks strongly suggest the midfielder was top of mind.
"I hate [the idea of] any young player who has grown up at United leaving the club. We shouldn't be selling players purely for financial reasons," the former England captain said.
"It should be what they are doing on the field and if they're not performing, there's always a chance [they'll be left out of the team or sold]. We all knew that, I knew that.
"If I wasn't performing on the pitch, it didn't matter what I'd done in the past or what I was going to do in the future; there was a good chance that I was either going to get left on the bench, or I was going to get sold.
Scott McTominay celebrating
"I'd like to think that Manchester United don't sell players that have grown up at the club, understand and love the club. I don't want to see players leave Manchester United if they care about United like I do."
Beckham speaks from first-hand experience. As a key figure in United's legendary 'Class of 92' - along with Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Nicky Butt - he knows the value of homegrown talent. The group broke into Sir Alex Ferguson's first team, becoming regular starters and going on to win multiple Premier League titles, domestic cups, and an iconic Treble in 1999.
"We were lucky to be part of the most stable club with the same manager, owner, fans and players there for many years," Beckham noted. "We know when you have stability within the club, you have success. Simple as that."
Scott McTominay reacts during a match between Man Utd and Arsenal
McTominay was never afforded the same stability or trust. Across seven full seasons in United's senior squad, he played under four different managers. As a result, he was in and out of the team, often shuffled between roles, and constantly having to prove himself despite being one of the team's more consistent performers during a turbulent era.
He was often treated as expendable, rather than essential. A reliable, but unremarkable, squad player, rather than a superstar. In that context, his move to Napoli made perfect sense.
Under Antonio Conte, he's finally been given a clear role and the backing to thrive, emerging as the midfield engine that drives one of Europe's most exciting teams. This weekend, Napoli can clinch just the fourth Scudetto in their storied history - and only the second since the days of Diego Maradona.
The Class of 92
A win against Cagliari on the final day would see them pip Champions League finalists Inter Milan to the title - a remarkable achievement, especially considering they've had to cope with the departures of both Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the past year.
In McTominay, however, they've discovered an unexpected superstar - a midfield lynchpin who's proving that greatness doesn't always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes, it's forged quietly, through resilience, consistency, and the hunger to finally be seen. Manchester United would do well to remember that.
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.