‘It’s beyond me’ – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer slams Man Utd over £25m transfer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has criticised Manchester United for selling Scott McTominay last summer, saying the decision is ‘beyond’ him.

McTominay broke out of United’s academy to make his senior debut in 2017 and went on to make 255 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils, lifting the FA Cup and Carabao Cup with his boyhood club.

But Erik ten Hag was unable to guarantee McTominay a regular starting role ahead of the 2024/25 campaign and the Scotland international ended his seven-year run at Old Trafford to join Napoli.

Eight months on, the £25million fee paid for McTominay looks like one of the bargains of the century, with the 28-year-old midfielder hitting the ground running to become an instant fan favourite in Naples.

McTominay has already enjoyed his best-ever season in front of goal, netting 12 times across a magnificent debut season in Italy, with Antonio Conte’s men sitting three points clear of Inter Milan at the top of the Serie A table.

This afternoon, Napoli will hope to increase that lead over their title rivals when they play host to 13th-placed Genoa at the Stadio San Paolo.

In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC, four-and-half years on from his dismissal at the Theatre of Dreams, Solskjaer poured scorn on his former club for allowing McTominay to leave.

‘Scott and Fred together, they were lads you would put your hat on every day to give 100 per cent,’ Solskjaer, now the manager of manager of Besiktas, said.

‘How you can sell Scott is beyond me.’

Though United could still secure Champions League qualification by winning this season’s Europa League, Solskjaer admitted it had been ‘hard to watch’ the team’s ‘struggles’ continue under Ruben Amorim.

‘Manchester United is my family and will always be part of me,’ he added.

‘In football, you don’t feel sorry for anyone because we are privileged, absolutely 100 per cent privileged to be able to work in clubs like this.

‘But for me, it is hard to watch because it is your family that is struggling. It is never easy at the weekend when you look at the table.’

The Norwegian was delighted to see ‘top human beings’ Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes playing starring roles as United put one foot in the Europa League final with a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night.

‘For me, Harry has always been a leader and a fighter,’ Solskjaer continued.

‘I was never in doubt when I signed him and he walked in the door he would be captain for us.

‘There is another captain there in Bruno. The two of them are top human beings. I was so happy for them [against Athletic Bilbao].

‘Those two and Victor [Lindelof] are probably the only ones I have heard from in the club since I left. You want the best for them.’

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