Mick Brown, a former Manchester United staff member who worked at the club during its most successful years, has provided some revealing insights into the financial challenges facing the club. Brown, who remains closely connected to the inner workings of Old Trafford, spoke to Football Insider and suggested that Manchester United would have breached profit and sustainability rules if they hadn’t made certain player sales. The financial strain was something United had never experienced before, forcing them to sell players before making any significant acquisitions.
Brown explained that the club, traditionally known for its financial power and spending capacity, found itself in an unfamiliar position during the 2024 transfer window. For the first time, they were compelled to offload players in order to generate funds for new signings. This was a stark contrast to previous years when United could comfortably spend on reinforcements without needing to sell first. One of the key sales that helped balance the books was that of Scott McTominay, whose departure to Napoli opened up the possibility for United to pursue other transfer targets.
McTominay, a player who had come through the club’s famed youth academy and made over 250 appearances for the first team, was sold to Napoli for £25.7 million on the final day of the summer transfer window. The sale was instrumental in allowing Manchester United to finance a deal for Manuel Ugarte, a highly sought-after midfielder. Brown revealed that without McTominay’s sale, the deal for Ugarte would have been financially impossible due to the club’s constraints under profit and sustainability regulations.
Interestingly, Brown also disclosed that McTominay had been on Erik ten Hag’s list of expendable players for some time. In fact, back in 2023, the Dutch manager had attempted to offload McTominay, along with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire, to Premier League clubs, including West Ham. Despite Ten Hag’s desire to move McTominay on, the midfielder remained at Old Trafford until his eventual transfer to Napoli.
In the wake of McTominay’s move to Serie A, United fans were left surprised by his performances. A recent highlights package of his displays in Italy has stunned many, with the midfielder seemingly thriving in his new surroundings. This has led to some questioning United’s decision to part ways with the 27-year-old, especially given the club’s current struggles in midfield.
Brown, who remains well-informed about United’s internal decisions, voiced his confusion over the sale. He questioned why United were so eager to let go of a player with McTominay’s qualities, especially when the club is currently lacking depth and quality in the midfield. “They wanted him gone for a long time,” Brown told Football Insider. He went on to reveal that, during his time at West Ham in 2023, United had offered McTominay, along with Wan-Bissaka and Maguire, as part of their efforts to raise funds.
Ultimately, United’s need to adhere to financial regulations forced their hand. “They didn’t have the finances to spend big on new players, especially with the profit and sustainability rules hanging over them,” Brown explained. The sale of McTominay was crucial in freeing up funds for the Ugarte deal, which otherwise would have breached the regulations. This was a scenario United had never found themselves in before – a club accustomed to spending freely now had to carefully manage its finances.
Brown expressed his frustration with the situation, particularly with Ten Hag’s decision to move McTominay on. “I don’t understand it,” he said. “He always gives his all, no matter the situation or the opposition, and he usually does a good job. I don’t know why United never seemed able to see that, because compared to some of the midfielders they have, they’re nowhere near as good.”
For United, the departure of McTominay marks a significant shift in their transfer policy and financial strategy. A club once synonymous with lavish spending now finds itself in a more cautious and constrained position. While they were able to secure Ugarte, a player of immense potential, the question remains whether letting go of a proven, homegrown talent like McTominay was the right decision.
As McTominay continues to shine in Serie A, Manchester United fans and pundits alike will be watching closely, wondering if the club has made a mistake in selling him, especially given their current midfield struggles. For now, McTominay’s exit, combined with United’s financial limitations, paints a picture of a club at a crossroads, trying to balance its ambitions on the pitch with the realities of modern
football finance.