Solskjaer Critiques Manchester United's Decision To Sell McTominay Amid Struggles

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has expressed his dismay at Manchester United's current difficulties, suggesting they might be partly due to the club's decision to sell Scott McTominay. United's season has been disappointing, with Erik ten Hag replaced by Ruben Amorim, who has yet to make a significant impact. The team is currently 15th in the league standings ahead of their match against Brentford.

Despite their league struggles, United still have a chance for success in the Europa League. They hold a 3-0 lead over Athletic Bilbao after the first leg of their semi-final. However, their transfer market performance has been underwhelming, with players like Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee failing to shine at Old Trafford.

Scott McTominay moved to Napoli in August and has thrived there, scoring 11 goals this season—the highest for any midfielder in Serie A. His performance surpasses that of Denis Law, who scored 10 goals in the 1960-61 season. McTominay's achievement is notable as no Scottish midfielder had scored more than 10 goals in Europe's top leagues since Charlie Adam did so for Blackpool in 2010-11.

Solskjaer, now managing Besiktas, praised McTominay and Fred for their dedication during his tenure at United. "Scott and Fred together, they were lads you would put your hat on every day to give 100%," he told BBC Sport. He questioned the decision to sell McTominay: "How you can sell Scott is beyond me."

The former United manager led the team to second place in the Premier League during the 2020-21 season with McTominay as a key player. However, Solskjaer was dismissed from his role in October 2021. Reflecting on his connection with the club, Solskjaer stated: "Man United is my family and will always be part of me."

He acknowledged that working at such prestigious clubs is a privilege but admitted it's tough seeing them struggle: "In football, you don't feel sorry for anyone because we are privileged... But for me, it is hard to watch because it is your family that is struggling." Despite these challenges, Napoli leads Serie A by three points and could secure silverware this season.