INEOS told they sold a player who’s a ‘decisive genius’ – and replaced him with Liverpool reject

Stretty News

·28 de abril de 2025

INEOS told they sold a player who’s a ‘decisive genius’ – and replaced him with Liverpool reject

It’s safe to say Manchester United would benefit from a game-defining player such as Scott McTominay right about now.

The Red Devils offloaded their academy graduate on deadline day last summer to receive £25 million of pure profit from Napoli, whom he joined on a four-year deal when ending a 20-year association with his boyhood club.

Vídeos OneFootball

To say McTominay has hit the ground running in Napoli would be an understatement, with his efforts now proving to be influential in the side potentially claiming their second Scudetto in three years. He has recorded a career-best 11 goals and four assists in the league this term, more recently notching a brace to ensure the title was in their hands following a 2-0 win over Torino last night.

They are now three points clear of reigning champions Inter Milan with four games left to play, and the I Partenopei faithful have been relishing the form of their star midfielder.

What the Italian media are saying about Scott McTominay

The former Red etched his name onto the scoresheet twice on Sunday. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“If there is a man besides [Antonio] Conte who is leading Napoli towards the dream of the Scudetto, it is Scott McTominay, the Scotsman who arrived with many expectations that he is also exceeding by dragging the team with goals and plays as a midfielder of a superior level,” said outlet Calcio Napoli 1926.

“11 goals in the championship including some decisive ones, substance and quality, and an enthusiasm that has made the Neapolitans increasingly crazy fall in love with this big boy who arrived in the summer.”

Additionally, he was hailed as a ‘genius’ and ‘Maradona’s hero’ by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Days before United signed off on McTominay’s exit, they agreed a long-term deal with his replacement: Manuel Ugarte.

The Uruguayan international has failed to have the desired impact fans initially hoped for when he swapped Paris for Manchester, while it’s since been revealed that Liverpool actually passed up on the opportunity to sign him prior to his United switch.

In the aftermath of their title triumph this weekend, The Athletic confirmed that Arne Slot and Sporting Director Richard Hughes were approached by Paris Saint-Germain and ‘offered’ Ugarte during the summer window. However, the pair had ‘no interest’ in hashing out a deal for the 24-year-old, and instead shoehorned Ryan Gravenberch into a deeper role, which has since proven hugely successful.