Manchester United selling Scott McTominay has been described as ‘one of the biggest mistakes in football’ by a former Red Devils coach.
That might be a bit over the top, but McTominay has certainly gone on to great things while Manchester United have struggled since his departure.
The midfielder came through the academy and made his Red Devils debut in May 2017, going on to make 255 appearances for the club, scoring 29 goals.
In August last year his career took a significant turn, leaving the only club he had ever played for as United sold him to Napoli for £25.7m.
While not a guaranteed starter by any means, McTominay had made 43 appearances in his last season with the Red Devils, scoring 10 goals, but the club decided he was surplus to requirements and wanted to cash in on the pure profit in PSR that homegrown players provide.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
However, it has seemed a poor decision with hindsight as the Scotland international has been brilliant in Italy since leaving the Premier League.
He scored 12 goals in 34 Serie A games as Napoli won the title under Antonio Conte. McTominay was named Serie A MVP and earned a place in league’s the Team of the Season.
In his absence Manchester United had an absolutely woeful season, finishing 15th in the Premier League and failing to win any silverware.
Few would suggest that the mere presence of McTominay would have completely turned that campaign around, but McCarthy sees selling the midfielder as clearly a disastrous decision.
However, the former South Africa striker who coached the Red Devils from 2022-24, does feel that new signing Matheus Cunha will bring something to the squad that was lost when McTominay left.
‘Of course, there are different reasons why you sell homegrown players sometimes,’ the 47-year-old told betonlinepromocodes.com. ‘When they go, the profit lets you sign more players.
‘Having said that, it was one of the biggest mistakes in football to let him leave. He was born to play for United.
‘Maybe he wasn’t the most technical, but he had fight, and I think it’s what they will get back with Matheus Cunha.
‘Scotty was a player that you look for in a dressing room to get you where you want to be. To let him go for what was a small transfer fee was a big shame. I think everyone at the club regrets that decision.’
Cunha will certainly bring a lot of passion with him, speaking emotionally about his love for Manchester United when he completed his move from Wolves earlier this summer.
‘This is the dream come true,’ Cunha told Manchester United club media. ‘Maybe outside, I think maybe my decision, they don’t understand. But when you have always dreamed to play here, it’s easier to pick this decision.
‘For me, no one else is like United. Of course, I know it’s been a hard season for everyone. I think my decision shows what this club is for me, and what I believe this club can be.’
Matheus Cunha’s Premier League record
Appearances: 82
Goals: 29
Assists: 13
Yellow cards: 14
Red cards: 0
He added: ‘It is hard to find a way to explain this club for me.
‘My house didn’t have the channel to watch the Premier League. My cousin’s house didn’t have the channel. He’s older than me and he supports United and he showed me the way, to start to watch the Premier League and to need to support United.
‘Only in my grandma’s house, we can watch the Premier League, so we organised to go every weekend.
‘And for me, it was always a bit inside of me, this club. When I play with him in the street, on the beach, on the gravel pitch, we called these pitches ‘Old Trafford’. Imagine!
‘So, wow, it’s so hard to be here now, thinking about the past — it’s very emotional for me.’