Manchester United’s recent transfer strategy has sparked plenty of debate, and the latest developments only add fuel to the fire.
In a bold move, the club chose to part ways with both Antony and Scott McTominay. Consequently, pundits and fans alike have been re-examining the decisions behind these exits.
Scott McTominay, a prized homegrown talent, left for Napoli last summer in a deal worth £25.7m. Moreover, the transfer was recorded as pure profit on United’s books. Despite coming off his best goal-scoring season – when he breached double figures – the club saw the sale as a strategic move given the financial realities.
At Napoli, McTominay has thrived as an attacking midfielder. In just 21 Serie A matches, he has amassed 10 goal contributions and scored seven goals. Furthermore, his transformation has helped fire Napoli to the top of the table, proving his quality in a new role.
Meanwhile, Brazilian winger Antony was loaned to Real Betis on a six-month deal without an option to buy. Notably, he earned player of the match honors in each of his first two LaLiga outings. Additionally, he made a memorable impact by scoring on his European debut during a 3-0 win over Gent in the Europa Conference League.
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According to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, United made the right decision in offloading both players. He pointed out that Antony has already found his level with a mid-table Spanish side, despite netting two goals in as many games. In addition, Luckhurst emphasized that potential suitors might be misled by Antony’s initial form.
Luckhurst further compared McTominay to a primetime star, even drawing parallels with Jude Bellingham as noted by Rio Ferdinand. Although McTominay had scored nine goals for United last season – four of which came off the bench – Erik ten Hag eventually transformed him into a true attacking midfielder. Therefore, the club faced a tough financial reality and opted to sign defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte while letting McTominay go.
Moreover, Luckhurst criticized United’s transfer market record by highlighting their poor hit-rate. He argued that signing Antony was a mistake and that squandering hundreds of millions on duds forced the club to offload a valuable homegrown asset like McTominay. Furthermore, he noted that few clubs were lining up for McTominay, with only Fulham showing interest despite finishing 13th last season.
In other news, United are reportedly preparing a double raid on two of Portugal’s big three – FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon. Additionally, The Athletic has cast serious doubts over the likelihood of signing Viktor Gyokeres, despite the obvious Amorim connection. As a result, United’s transfer activities continue to stir debate and keep fans on the edge of their seats.
