“I didn’t want this”. Those were the words of Erik ten Hag last year, reflecting on Manchester United’s decision to sell Scott McTominay to Napoli on a £30m deal in the summer of 2024.

The Scotland star was fresh off the back of a standout season at Old Trafford, having scored ten times in all competitions, yet with just a year remaining on his contract, the club hierarchy opted to cash in – the PSR profit from that academy sale likely the deciding factor.

While Manuel Ugarte – the less said about him, the better – was acquired as his replacement, McTominay has gone on to soar to unimaginable heights in Italy. Serie A champion. Ballon d’Or nominee. An icon in Naples.

For a player often derided for what he couldn’t do in Manchester, the 28-year-old has been worshipped for what he can do in his new home. The sight of an adoring crowd bellowing his name at last season’s Scudetto celebration was one to warm the heart.

A man without a defined role under Ten Hag, and those before him, McTominay was something of a 12th man at Old Trafford. A player who could prove so valuable, yet didn’t have a clear route to a starting berth. Is that now being repeated?

How McTominay compares to Man Utd's midfielders

With the new season still in its infancy, let’s take things back to 2024/25 – a campaign that many at United would likely wish to erase from their brain.

One takeaway – as we’ll come onto – was that Amorim’s side were crying out for reinforcement in the centre of the park, yet despite interest in Carlos Baleba this summer, no such move was made.

If a repeat of last term is to occur, that decision could certainly come back to bite those at boardroom level. There might be some shiny new toys in attack, but the engine room is stuttering and smoking.

That was evident in 2024/25, with Bruno Fernandes the only real shining light of the current crop, amid his haul of 38 goals and assists in all competitions – eclipsing McTominay’s own record of 19 goal involvements under Antonio Conte.

No other midfielder comes close to McTominay’s return, however, with an injury-hit season seeing Kobbie Mainoo register just two goals and one assist in 37 games.

Ugarte, meanwhile, scored twice and provided six assists in 45 outings, yet the Uruguayan didn’t even feature in the Europa League final to mark his diminishing status.

There was to be a mini-revival for Casemiro, particularly in Europe, although the Brazilian was again far from McTominay’s level, with just five goals and three assists in 42 appearances.

It also proved another miserable year for Mason Mount, excluding his three goals late on in the campaign under Amorim, with the Englishman now in danger of falling into McTominay territory.

Man Utd's new McTominay

For all the naysayers and doubters – with club legend Roy Keane once describing the infamous ‘McFred’ partnership as “not good enough” – McTominay retained the love of a succession of United managers.

Indeed, Jose Mourinho conjured up his own award to gift to the homegrown talent in 2018. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described him as a “physical monster”. Ralf Rangnick suggested he was of future “captain” material. Ten Hag, meanwhile, was perhaps most effusive in his praise in 2023:

“He is Manchester United in everything and in his heart. So he’s playing for the badge. He gives his life. And when you’re coming on and you give this to the team, it tells a lot.”

For all the plaudits, under Ten Hag, in particular, McTominay was more of an impact man than a regular fixture, starting just 43 of 85 games under the Dutchman in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

A player loved by managers, but not always by supporters, Mount also falls into that category.

This is a player who started Champions League and Europa League finals under Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate in 2021. Even Keane was dishing out the plaudits at the time, stating in that same year that the Englishman is “like Paul Scholes” as he “plays like a kid on the street”.

Fast forward to the present day, however, and the £55m capture of the 26-year-old in 2023 is now teetering toward disaster territory. Into the start of his third season, the ex-Chelsea has suffered yet another injury setback.

The versatile playmaker had started the first three league games of the campaign, yet was forced off at the break in the 3-2 win over Burnley. His return date has yet to be specified.

In all, just four goals and two assists have come his way in 50 games for the club, with Transfermarkt noting that he has missed 52 games through injury since his arrival just over two years ago.

Much like McTominay before him, he retains the backing of his managers regardless. Upon joining United, Amorim singled the midfielder out as a “proper footballer”. Ten Hag also described him as a “high-class player”, ahead of the 2024 Community Shield.

The problem – aside from his inability to stay fit – is that it is difficult to see a space for Mount in United’s best XI, just like McTominay last term, if everyone is fit and available.

Indeed, he appears to be vying for a number ten berth with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, two players who look a shoo-in to start if available. Yes, as the early weeks of the season showcased, Cunha can be nudged into a number nine berth to accommodate Mount, yet with Sesko in the picture, that shouldn’t be a permanent fix.

As he showed off the bench against Athletic Club last term, following his stellar brace to book United’s place in the showpiece, Mount at his best can make an impact, particularly off the bench.

As his performance in the final itself displayed, however – in which he was replaced just after the hour mark – the £150k-per-week talent, as per Capology, is rarely as effective from the off.

Minutes

71

Touches

25

Pass accuracy

73%

Dribbles

1/1

Key passes

0

Ground duels

5/6

Aerial duels

0/1

Possession lost

6

Like McTominay, he is seemingly a manager’s dream, albeit with it difficult to see a regular starting role emerging for him. Amorim may wish to utilise him more regularly – as did Ten Hag likely planned to do with McTominay – but who gives way for that change is another matter altogether.

For the colloquially named ‘McSauce’, the major obstacle to his attacking midfield berth was Fernandes, with the same now arguably true for Mount.

Perhaps, as his ex-teammate has done, the Cobham graduate might have to depart for pastures new in order for his talents to truly be recognised.