Over the last few years, Manchester United have made some glaring mistakes. The club has been mismanaged and it's all led to the state they're in right now. One area they've struggled in is the transfer market. Their recruitment has been very poor, with the side spending big on players like Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount, who have all failed to deliver once they've arrived at Old Trafford. It's not just buy players that they've had issues with, however.
The club have also made several glaring mistakes when it comes to letting players leave. The decision to let David de Gea leave for free is one that fans have since taken exception to, labelling Andre Onana, his replacement, as a 'huge downgrade'. Another massive error was letting Scott McTominay leave in 2024. The Scot was sold to Napoli at the start of the 2024/25 campaign for just £25m and after a full season in Italy, the deal has gone down as a massive bargain.
The midfielder has excelled in Serie A, helping guide Napoli to the title with 16 goal contributions in the league. Many have praised McTominay for his role in the club's triumph and it's made United's decision to let him go look even more foolish. The Red Devils had their reasons for selling him, though.
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Scott McTominay wins MVP award with Napoli after winning Serie A title
Scott McTominay has been named Serie A’s Most Valuable Player following a stunning debut season in Italy. The Scotland international won the first league title of his career after scoring in Napoli's 2-0 win over Cagliari, which secured the club's fourth Scudetto crown. The 28-year-old joined Napoli from Manchester United last summer and has enjoyed a debut season beyond his wildest dreams. The midfielder ended the 2024/25 campaign with 12 goals and six assists in 34 league appearances with Antonio Conte’s side. “It’s really incredible all of this! The fans have given me everything this season, it’s a truly indescribable joy", said McTominay during the post-match celebrations.
United Sold McTominay Due to Financial Fair Play Rules
Then manager Erik ten Hag didn't want to sell him
scott mctominay
Despite McTominay being one of United's strongest players over the years following his debut in 2017 under Jose Mourinho, United made the shocking decision to sell him to Napoli in 2024 and they did so for the relatively cheap sum of £25m. They had their reasons for the deal, as Erik ten Hag explained at the time. The Dutchman was still in charge of United when the sale was made and he revealed that while he didn't want to sell the midfielder, he was forced to due to the financial fair play rules. Via quotes shared by Metro, he said:
"I didn’t want this but that’s the rules the club had to deal with. The rules are, I would even say, bad, but that’s the situation created. It forced us to make this decision. He was so important for our team, he was at Manchester United for over 22 years. But unfortunately, it’s the rules.
"You have to discuss the rules to do sales and obviously homegrown players, academy players, bring more value. It’s not the right thing to do but for everyone, for all parts, it’s a good deal. For Scott, he is happy with it. Of course, for Napoli, a very good player but also for us."
United went on to spend £200m that summer on new talent, but none had the impact that McTominay had in Italy and Graeme Souness blasted the class to sell him. He labelled it an 'atrocious' decision and claimed the whole fiasco was an indictment of the way United have been mismanaged in recent years. He said: "He was 27 years old and not hurting United with his wages when the club’s ‘decision-makers’ thought it was a bright idea to sell him to Napoli for £25million. Would someone at United please hold their hand up and say, 'This was my shout', because it’s been an atrocious piece of judgment. The perfect example of the mismanagement on an industrial scale at that club since Fergie packed in."
There won't be many United fans right now who disagree with the former Liverpool man either.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and accurate as of 24/05/2025