Benni McCarthy claims 'everyone at Man Utd regrets' Scott McTominay sale - but backs £62.5m signing to be his successor

The ex-South Africa international, who was part of Erik ten Hag's coaching staff at Old Trafford, says it was a "big shame" that United sold McTominay to Napoli for a "small fee" of £25 million ($34m) in 2024. The Scotland star went on to play a starring role in the Italian team's Serie A triumph and while McCarthy suggests it was a mistake to sell the 28-year-old, he thinks summer signing Matheus Cunha bring similar qualities to the Red Devils.

He told betonlinepromocodes.com: "Of course, there are different reasons why you sell homegrown players sometimes. When they go, the profit lets you sign more players. Having said that, it was one of the biggest mistakes in football to let him leave. He was born to play for United. Maybe he wasn’t the most technical, but he had fight, and I think it’s what they will get back with Matheus Cunha. Scotty was a player that you look for in a dressing room to get you where you want to be. To let him go for what was a small transfer fee was a big shame. I think everyone at the club regrets that decision."

Not only did the midfielder score 12 goals and bag six assists for Napoli in the league, but he was also named as Serie A's best player of the 2024-25 season. At a time when the Red Devils have been languishing in the Premier League, the decision to sell their academy product looks increasingly more foolish.

McTominay, whose contract at the Italian team runs until 2028, will hope to get the new 2025-26 season off to a positive start as Antonio Conte's Serie A champions travel to Sassuolo on August 23.