Connect with us

Football

The ‘atrocious’ reason Man Utd sold Scott McTominay who is now a Napoli legend

Published

on

Of all the questionable decisions Manchester United made over the past year, letting Scott McTominay leave might be the one they regret most.

The Scottish midfielder just wrapped up a sensational first season at Napoli, capping it off with a stunning bicycle kick that helped secure the Serie A title with a 2-0 win over Cagliari.

McTominay has taken Italy by storm. In just one season, he’s become a fan favorite, earned the league’s MVP award, and scored 12 goals.

His impact has been so profound that he broke down in tears at the final whistle, overwhelmed by what he’d achieved in a city that once idolized Diego Maradona.

Under Antonio Conte’s guidance, he’s grown into a player defined as complete and has been the driving force behind Napoli’s title-winning campaign.

Back in England, Manchester United are floundering in 16th place in the Premier League. They were recently beaten by Tottenham in the Europa League final, a stark contrast to McTominay’s celebrations in Naples. It begs the obvious question—why did United ever let him go?

McTominay isn’t the only ex-United player thriving abroad. Romelu Lukaku also played a major role in Napoli’s success this season.

For McTominay, the move ended a 22-year spell at Old Trafford. He joined United at the age of five and made his senior debut under Jose Mourinho in 2017. His departure last summer came with a modest £25 million price tag, a fee now widely viewed as a bargain.

Former manager Erik ten Hag, who was dismissed in November, had no desire to lose McTominay. However, he admitted the club’s hands were tied due to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

Selling homegrown players like McTominay counted as pure profit in financial reporting, and that ultimately made him expendable.

Ten Hag described the situation as unfortunate, noting how vital McTominay had been and how the club had little choice under the circumstances.

McTominay himself seemed at peace with the decision. He said he had to prioritize himself and didn’t hesitate when Napoli made their offer. He made it clear he had no regrets and was fully committed to succeeding in his new chapter.

While United spent over £200 million on new players last summer, none have come close to making the impact McTominay has in Italy. At the time of the transfer, the decision drew criticism from former players—and those voices have only grown louder.

Alan Shearer questioned what McTominay must think watching United’s decline. He suggested the midfielder likely feels vindicated by his decision, given the contrast in fortunes.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who managed McTominay during his time at United, was equally baffled by the sale. He recalled McTominay as a player who gave 100 percent every day and couldn’t understand why the club let him go.

Graeme Souness was even harsher in his assessment, calling the decision one of the worst since Sir Alex Ferguson left.

He highlighted McTominay’s age and manageable wages as further evidence that United had miscalculated.

Souness said someone at the club should take responsibility for what he called a glaring misjudgment, pointing to it as another example of long-term mismanagement.

As United prepare for a summer without European football, the consequences of that decision loom even larger.

Meanwhile, McTominay finds himself the hero of Naples, celebrating a title and showing what can happen when belief, opportunity, and talent all align.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Football

‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Published

on

‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

Continue Reading

Football

Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Published

on

Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

Continue Reading

Football

Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Published

on

Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2026 Alpays Media.

News
Live Scores
Live TV
App