One of the biggest errors Manchester United have made in the transfer market over the last few years was surely selling Scott McTominay to Napoli.
The 28-year-old is a graduate of the Red Devils’ esteemed Carrington academy and became a key part of the first team since first breaking through in 2017/18.
Yet, it never really felt like he was used in the correct role, often deployed as a number 6, be it in a pivot or as a lone defensive midfielder. Only when Erik ten Hag started to play him further forward did McTominay play his most effective football for United.
He moved to Napoli in 2024, after racking up 255 appearances in Red, scoring 29 goals.
McTominay’s time at Napoli so far
The move to Serie A proved to be a successful deal for the Scotland international. United arguably sold him for less than he was worth, with the Italian giants paying just £25.7m to acquire his services last summer.
It’s safe to say that the Carrington star had the season of a lifetime under Antonio Conte in Naples.
He guided the club to the Scudetto, finding the back of the net on 12 occasions and assisting a further six goals in 34 top-flight appearances.
Those performances led to a few notable individual accolades, as well as the Serie A title. He subsequently finished 18th in the Ballon d’Or and won the Serie A MVP, to cap off a huge debut season in Italy. He is adored by the Napoli fans.
As for United, well, it seems like the decision to sell their former number 39 was a huge error. McTominay often felt undervalued at Old Trafford, and if he’d been profiled correctly, he could have shone for his boyhood club.
The Red Devils need to be careful they do not make the same mistake with one of McTominay’s former teammates.
Manchester United's new Scott McTominay
McTominay is not the only United academy star to leave the club in the last 12 months. Alejandro Garnacho joined Chelsea in the summer, and Marcus Rashford moved on loan to Barcelona, where he is thriving.
Indeed, Rashford has three goals and five assists in his first ten appearances for Barca.
Well, perhaps 20-year-old Kobbie Mainoo could be the next to go, a move which could certainly frustrate United fans as much as the McTominay one.
Despite being seen as an “invaluable” member of the squad by the likes of analyst Statman Dave, and as a future “£100m-plus footballer” by United writer Alex Turk, the Stockport-born midfield sensation cannot get any chance under Amorim.
This season, the England international, who started the final of Euro 2024, has only played six games and 203 minutes. To make matters worse, only 113 of those have come in the Premier League, and he has yet to start in the top-flight.
Given the quality and composure he brings to the midfield, it is bemusing that Mainoo can’t get any first-team football.
Over the summer, Gary Neville said the club “should be building around” the United number 37. He is certainly being underappreciated by Amorim, just as McTominay was.
His numbers from the last two seasons show exactly the kind of talent Amoirm has at his disposal, yet chooses to ignore.
In 2023/24, Mainoo averaged 1.5 completed take-ons per 90 minutes, and last term won six duels on average each game.
Forward passes
10.3
11
Take-ons completed
1.5
1.3
Duels won
5.6
6
Touches
54.7
62.5
Ball recoveries
4.5
4.8
If United were to repeat the McTominay sale, with Napoli one of the clubs actually interested in Mainoo, they would hope for a bigger windfall. According to Football Transfers, the 20-year-old is currently worth a whopping £53m.
That sizeable figure is actually higher than some of United’s most important players under Amorim. One of those is club captain Bruno Fernandes, who is valued at £45m. That certainly highlights the quality Mainoo has. It also highlights how United have struck gold by raising such an incredible talent from their academy.
Despite that transfer valuation, United will no doubt want to avoid losing Mainoo to Napoli. Another McTominay situation is staring them in the face.