Manchester United's decision to sell Scott McTominay has come back to haunt them despite past warnings from Sir Alex Ferguson. Ruben Amorim has been left to deal with the fallout of a historically poor season at Old Trafford, with the sale of McTominay being one of the most glaring errors.
Erik ten Hag was still in charge when the Red Devils decided to end McTominay's 22-year association with the club, which began when he joined at five years old. The lack of foresight by United has been starkly highlighted as McTominay, 28, helped Napoli win Serie A in his debut campaign and was named Player of the Season in Italy's top flight. McTominay scored 12 goals and provided six assists, contributing significantly to Antonio Conte's 10th career Scudetto (five as a player, five as a coach).
Only six players scored more in Italy's top flight this term, a contribution that would have been invaluable to a United side that set a new record low for goals scored in a Premier League season (44). Despite being deemed surplus to requirements by his boyhood club and sold for £25.7million, McTominay's success may not be surprising to those who knew him well at United.
Ferguson's admiration for the player is well known, having gone to bat for his compatriot on more than one occasion. And it was during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure that the United legend made it clear he believed McTominay deserved a prominent role in the team.
"Scott McTominay is now emerging as one of Man United's big players," he said in a 2021 interview with the Scottish FA (via The Mirror). "When you watch Man United pick their team for a big game, McTominay's name is in it. He's a good character, a great trainer. I know a little bit about the boy and I think that's the background."
The legendary manager's assessment of McTominay as a player of exceptional moral fibre aligns with the type of player United's current manager has sorely missed this season. The team has too often squandered leads and invited pressure, culminating in a historically high number of defeats.
Ten Hag did show faith in McTominay to a certain extent and asserted in October his intention to keep him at the club despite other forces pushing for his departure. McTominay himself indicated on the BBC Football Daily podcast that Financial Fair Play (FFP) and the club's requirements influenced this stance.
In the wake of Ferguson's tenure, United's recruitment strategy has often been criticised for favouring marquee signings or costly young talents who fail to serve the team's needs adequately. In contrast, a player like McTominay brings qualities that aren't always quantifiable but are crucial for success.
"I signed [McTominay] when he was seven or eight years of age and he was actually a centre-forward as a kid," Ferguson added in 2021. "He's just sprouted, a little bit like Darren Fletcher. Darren had a few little annoying injuries as he was growing and needed some rest periods and things like that.
"McTominay is of a similar type to Darren - long, lanky, good winner of the ball and a good turn of pace going forward, a great attitude to the game. All these attitudes that Darren Fletcher had, he's got them."
Ferguson, 83, was renowned for his ability to spot and nurture hidden gems, transforming United into a powerhouse by assembling teams that outshone their individual components. Players like Park Ji-sung, Nemanja Vidic, and John O'Shea stand testament to his talent-spotting prowess.
The modest £25m fee United pocketed for McTominay now seems a bargain given his exploits with Napoli to date. The Scotland international has adapted seamlessly to Italian football, showcasing the dynamic midfield skills that were evident during his tenure at Old Trafford, making it clear that United's loss is most definitely Napoli's gain.