Did Man United give up on McTominay too soon?

Is it a coincidence that players who leave Man United start performing outstandingly, while the ones who arrive at Old Trafford just blend into the club's struggles? Just look at some examples like Mason Greenwood, who shone first at Getafe and then at Roberto De Zerbi's Olympique Marseille, or Jadon Sancho, who was fantastic at Borussia Dortmund and now is onto his career's revival at Chelsea. Conversely, there are so far error-prone Matthijs de Ligt, severely injured Leny Yoro, still unsettled Manuel Ugarte, and inefficient Joshua Zirkzee.

Another name could be added to the group of players who moved to a whole other level when they left the Red Devils - Scott McTominay. The 27-year-old netted his first Serie A goal - a 27th-second opener - with Napoli on Friday in a 3-1 triumph over Como after previously scoring his debut goal in a Coppa Italia duel against Palermo. All in all, he has been one of the best players in Antonio Conte's squad and one of the most deserving for the Serie A top spot in which the Neapolitans currently sit.

McTominay is Man United's child. He joined the club at the age of six back in 2002 and moved through all the youth categories. He debuted for the senior squad in 2017, and in seven years with the first team, he made 255 appearances, scoring 29 goals. His ultimate season at the Theatre of Dreams was the best in his career, with ten goals and three assists in 43 games in all competitions. Then why did United opt to sell him?

Bruno Rednandes

Well, because of the infamous PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules), which provide much more financial benefits when selling a home-grown player. So, the money. Is recently signed Ugarte - who was paid €50 million to Paris Saint-Germain - better than McTominay, whom Napoli brought for twenty million euros less? So far, it doesn't seem so.

And just imagine how well he would fit in the current United squad paired with another Red Devils' child, Kobbie Mainoo, especially when Mason Mount has frequent injury issues, Casemiro is underperforming, and Ugarte has yet to adapt to the Premier League requirements. I guess we'll never know.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 7

Saturday

Crystal Palace - Liverpool 0-1 (0-1)

/Jota 8/

Arsenal - Southampton 3-1 (0-0)

/Havertz 57, Martinelli 68, Saka 88 - Archer 55/

Brentford - Wolverhampton 5-3 (4-2)

/Collins 2, Mbuemo 20, Norgaard 28, Pinnock 45, Carvalho 90 - Cunha 4, Larsen 26, Ait-Nouri 90+3/

Leicester - Bournemouth 1-0 (1-0)

/Buonanotte 16/

Man.City - Fulham 3-2 (1-1)

/Kovačić 32, 47, Doku 82 - Pereira 26, Muniz 89/

West Ham - Ipswich 4-1 (2-1)

/Antonio 1, Kudus 43, Bowen 49 - Delap 6/

Everton - Newcastle 0-0

Sunday

16.00: (2.25) Aston Villa (3.50) Man.Utd. (3.10)

16.00: (1.47) Chelsea (4.40) Nott.Forest (6.75)

18.30: (3.05) Brighton (3.70) Tottenham (2.35)

***odds are subject to change***