Jamie Carragher says Gary Neville ‘killed’ former Manchester United star Scott McTominay with too much criticism before he moved to Napoli.
McTominay came through United’s academy and had spent his entire at the club but was sold to Italian side Napoli for £25.7m in August 2024.
In his first season, McTominay helped Napoli clinch the Italian top-flight title, was crowned Serie A Most Valuable Player and was even nominated for the Ballon d’Or – the most prestigious individual award in football.
The Scotland international midfielder conjured up 12 goals and six assists in 34 Serie A matches last term, quickly becoming a Napoli fan-favourite.
A number of former players, managers and football pundits have since slammed United for allowing the 28-year-old to leave the club last year.
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Peter Schmeichel says United ‘never’ should have sold McTominay with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also blasting the Red Devils over the Scot’s exit.
Carragher: Neville was too critical of McTominay
Ex-Liverpool defender Carragher has now pointed the finger at fellow pundit and former United star Neville for his treatment of McTominay.
Speaking in a new video posted on The Overlap YouTube channel, Neville asked: ‘What’s happened to Scott McTominay? Have we made a massive mistake?’
Carragher said: ‘You’ve killed another Man United player, that’s what happened. Too much criticism, [saying] he’s not good enough.’
Neville, though, insisted: ‘I didn’t say he wasn’t good enough… Not me. I never thought they should have got rid of him.’
What did Neville say about McTominay?
Back in 2018, Neville questioned whether or not McTominay was good enough to play in midfield for United.
‘McTominay, when I watch him, I’m not sure he’s actually good enough on the ball to be a Man United midfield player,’ Neville said.
‘I do think he’s the type that it’s good for him to play games in there – but I do wonder whether if actually he’s got more of a position at centre back eventually, the physicality that he has. He’s a big lad.
‘Is he sharp enough on the ball to be a Man United central midfield player?’
Ironically, McTominay has become more of an attacking midfielder since swapping United for Napoli under the management of Antonio Conte.
McTominay has registered 18 goals and eight assists in 53 games for Napoli to date. By comparison, he scored 29 times and provided eight assists across 255 matches for United from 2017 to 2024.