Sport
Scott McTominay could have been in Bilbao on Wednesday. He could have been part of the Manchester United team that lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, capping the club’s worst season of the modern age. Instead, McTominay was preparing for a career-defining achievement.
48 hours after United’s Europa League nadir, McTominay scored a stunning Zlatan Ibrahimovic-esque goal to secure the Serie A title for Napoli. The Scotland international was named the division’s Player of the Year award, rewarding him for being the driving force behind Antonio Conte’s title-winning team.
Romelu Lukaku also found the back of the net as Napoli beat Cagliari. The Belgian is another former Manchester United player who has proved his worth away from Old Trafford, spearheading Napoli’s attack this season. Lukaku’s dribble and finish to make it 2-0 on Friday night was one of the moments of the whole Serie A campaign.
On the same night, Antony scored another beauty, cutting inside off the right wing to bend a finish into the top corner from just inside the box for Real Betis against Valencia. It was the Brazilian’s 18th goal contribution since making the loan switch to La Liga in January with Antony now a key figure for a Betis team preparing for Wednesday’s Conference League final against Chelsea.
The weekend before, it was Dean Henderson proving there is life beyond Manchester United, winning the FA Cup with Crystal Palace and making several saves in the final to prevent Manchester City from finding the back of the net. Henderson, like Antony and McTominay, is surely thankful to no longer be at Old Trafford.
These success stories send a clear message to Manchester United’s struggling players – leave as soon as you can. Old Trafford has become the most toxic environment in the Premier League with United now the club where careers go to die. There isn’t a Manchester United player who shouldn’t be looking to pastures new.
The good news for many of them is that Ruben Amorim is set to lead a squad overhaul this summer. Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are already confirmed as leaving with Antony, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho expected to join them in departing following loan spells away from Old Trafford.
Rasmus Hojlund will surely be replaced as United’s first-choice centre forward. However, setting free the Danish striker would be the best thing for his career. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Hojlund find form somewhere else with a return to Serie A reportedly on the cards. Juventus have been mentioned as suitors.
Recent reports claim Alejandro Garnacho has been told he can leave Manchester United. The young winger has been a rare source of attacking verve this season, but has clashed with Amorim. Napoli are long-time admirers of Garnacho and would have a role for the 20-year-old. He could follow in McTominay’s footsteps.
Time and time again, players have left United to succeed elsewhere. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was West Ham’s best player this season. Alvaro Carreras has flourished at Benfica and could now be on his way to Real Madrid, according to reports. Anthony Elanga is one of Nottingham Forest’s most effective attackers. The list goes on and on.
Maybe one day the culture will change at Manchester United. For the time being, though, their record of player development is so bad that it’s difficult to envisage why anyone would want to join the Old Trafford club. In fact, United has become a place players should want to flee. McTominay, Antony and co. are proof of this.
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- Source: https://www.colossusbets.com/blog/mctominay-is-an-example-to-man-utds-struggling-players/
