Graeme Souness hits out at Manchester United over 'atrocious' transfer decision
03/24/2025 04:11 AM
Graeme Souness has hit out at Manchester United over their 'atrocious' decision to sell Scott McTominay.
McTominay left his boyhood club to join Napoli last summer in a deal worth £25m.
The Scotland international made over 250 appearances for Manchester United after coming through the academy.
Former United boss Erik ten Hag appeared unhappy at the decision to sell McTominay and Souness has described it as an 'atrocious piece of judgement'.
McTominay is enjoying a superb first season in Italy, scoring six Serie A goals to help Antonio Conte's Napoli challenge for the title.
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‘Oh how Manchester United must regret selling Scott McTominay,’ Souness told the Daily Mail.
‘He's a fantastic modern footballer. A high-energy, box-to-box workaholic who chips in with important goals.
‘He was 27 years old and not hurting United with his wages when the club's 'decision-makers' thought it was a bright idea to sell him to Napoli for £25million.
‘They'd gone out and spent £58m on an ageing, 30-year-old Casemiro, and paid him £370,000 a week. And another £42m on Manuel Ugarte. Collective transfer fees of £100m.
‘Would someone at United please hold their hand up and say, “This was my shout.” Because it's been an atrocious piece of judgment.
Scott McTominay on joining Napoli
‘It was a big decision, but in some ways it was quite straightforward. I saw the passionate fans, I saw the coach, I saw the players and I saw an opportunity.
‘I took it. I didn’t look back. It didn’t take me long to make the decision because I knew that was what I wanted and I’ll never have any regrets in my life.
‘As soon as I put my mind to something I want to do it, that’s it. There’s no holding me back.
‘I love this place. I love the fans, I love my team-mates.’
‘The perfect example of the mismanagement on an industrial scale at that club since Fergie packed in.
‘McTominay has flourished at Napoli. Maybe United should be asking themselves how much it will cost to get him back.’
Another former Scotland player, Pat Nevin, also believes it was a 'mistake' for Manchester United to sell McTominay.
‘I think Scott McTominay was worth £50 million before he left Manchester United,’ he told CasinoHawks.
‘It was a monster mistake by United. If you asked any Scottish people when he left for £25million, everybody went, you what?
‘After what he’d been doing for Scotland after that period he’d had in the team for Manchester United when he suddenly was moved a lot farther forward and showed what he’s good at in his best position.
‘I know West Ham wanted him, but I’d have taken him at Chelsea in a heartbeat. Absolutely. I mean, he really has that much quality.
‘But apart from anything else from United, he was showing the spirit every single time we walked on that pitch that that club needs, that that club doesn’t have to be anywhere near the level they want.
‘You've got Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, fabulous players in their time, but their time’s coming up and you’re getting rid of McTominay? That’s just finance. That’s nothing else.
‘Is he worth £50m now? Yes. But he was before. I'm delighted for him. I’m not even mildly surprised at how well he’s done in Italy. Not even slightly.’
While McTominay is challenging for a league title at Napoli, his former club Manchester United have been in the bottom-half of the Premier League for most of the season.
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