David Beckham has made it clear he is not a fan of his former club Manchester United selling top quality youngsters such as Scott McTominay in thinly-veiled dig
09:45, 20 May 2025
David Beckham
David Beckham appears to have hit out at Manchester United's decision to sell Scott McTominay(Image: AP)
David Beckham has seemingly criticised Manchester United's decision to sell Scott McTominay. The former England captain, who, like McTominay, rose through the ranks at United's academy, said he "hates" seeing talented graduates being sold "purely for financial reasons".
McTominay, who is now flourishing at Napoli, made over 250 appearances for United before being sold for a mere £25.7million last summer. Then-manager Erik ten Hag justified the move as necessary to balance the club's finances, amidst a backdrop of significant cost-cutting measure imposed by owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Since moving to Italy, Scotland superstar McTominay has been in outstanding form, playing a pivotal role in Napoli's pursuit of the Serie A title. With 18 goal contributions across all competitions, he's earned the nickname "the bottle opener" for his ability to score vital breakthrough goals.
Meanwhile, United have had a disastrous season. With 18 league defeats and just two places separating them from the relegation zone, the club are facing their worst domestic finish in decades.
In an interview with The Athletic, Beckham emphasised 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 comments strongly suggest that the midfielder was at the front of his 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 50-year-old said.
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Scott McTominay celebrating
Scott McTominay has been on fire at Napoli this season(Image: Getty Images)
"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.
"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."
Scott McTominay reacts during a match between Man Utd and Arsenal
McTominay was never given the superstar treatment at Old Trafford(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Beckham's comments ring particularly true given he was part of the famed 'Class of 92' - a group of United academy graduates who established themselves as first team stars under Sir Alex Ferguson, before going to achieve great success together.
"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."
McTominay wasn't afforded the same stability. In his seven full seasons at Old Trafford he played under four different managers, and was often shuffled between roles. He also had to constantly prove his worth despite being one of the more consistent performers during a turbulent era.
He was frequently seen as dispensable, and viewed as a reliable squad player rather than a standout star. Given this context, his move to Napoli was a logical step.
The Class of 92
Beckham thinks Manchester United should nurture homegrown talent like they did with the famed 'Class of 92'(Image: Getty Images)
Under the guidance of Antonio Conte, he's finally been given a defined role and the support to excel, becoming the midfield dynamo for one of Europe's most thrilling teams. This weekend, Napoli have the chance to secure only their fourth Scudetto in their history - and just the second since the era of Diego Maradona.
A victory against Cagliari on the final day would see them edge past Champions League finalists Inter Milan to claim the title - an extraordinary feat, particularly considering they've had to deal with the exits of both Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the past year.
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However, in McTominay, they've unearthed an unexpected gem - a midfield maestro who's demonstrating that greatness doesn't always come with fanfare. Sometimes, it's quietly crafted through resilience, consistency, and the desire to finally be recognised. It's a lesson Manchester United would do well to remember.