Profit and Sustainability has been a major topic of the 2024 summer transfer window, and not just at Manchester United.
A late flurry of activity towards the end of June was geared around clubs desperately attempting to avoid the sort of sanctions and point deductions that had come the way of Everton and Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle sold academy kid Elliott Anderson to the City Ground. Aston Villa and Everton traded Lewis Dobbin for Tim Iroegbunam. And Chelsea made sure to let everyone know that Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja were available for transfer.
For Manchester United, meanwhile, the precarious financial situation Ineos inherited when releasing the Glazers from control meant that Scott McTominay always looked vulnerable to a potential departure.
As an academy graduate, McTominay counts as ‘pure profit’ on the balance sheet, very helpful for PSR.
Like with Mason Greenwood – who’s exit to Marseille freed up funds for Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro – the Scotland international’s impending switch for Napoli represents excellent financial business for a United side who’s extensive rebuild is only just beginning.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Scott McTominay leaves Manchester United for Napoli
McTominay touched down in Italy on Thursday, greeted with a heroes welcome by the famously intense Napoli support.
And, speaking ahead of Man United’s derby clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, manager Erik ten Hag admitted that the pesky Profit and Sustainability Rules certainly forced the club’s hand when it came to a player the boss would ideally have liked to keep.
“He was so important for our team. He was at Manchester United for over 22 years. But unfortunately, it’s the rules,” Ten Hag says, via Sky Info on YouTube.
“You have to discuss the rules to do sales, and obviously homegrown players, academy players, bring more value. It’s not the right thing to do but, for everyone, for all parties, it’s a good deal.
“For Scott, he is happy with it. Of course, for Napoli. (They are getting) a very good player. But also for us (it’s a good deal too).”
Red Devils get £25m worth of ‘pure profit’
According to Fabrizio Romano, via his official X account, Manchester United will bank £25 million from McTominay’s move to the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona.
And, in the view of Naples-based reporter Massimiliano Gallo, McTominay’s arrival is testament to the pulling power of Il Partenopei’s superstar coach Antonio Conte.
“Without Conte, these players would not have come. McTominay’s inclusion? English football is different from Italian football, there could be some problems, but this is a very strong player. A flag bearer for Manchester United and there was great controversy when he was sold,” Napoli Magazine quotes Gallo
“For me, he is the cover purchase of this campaign, the best purchase in Serie A.”
McTominay’s departure allows Man United to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain on a permanent basis, rather than on a loan-to-buy arrangement.
Ugarte will not be registered in time to face Liverpool this weekend. But without a pre-season under his belt and with PSG boss Luis Enrique relegating him to the proverbial bomb squad following the arrival of Joao Neves from Benfica, Ugarte was unlikely to be thrown in at the deep end by Ten Hag anyway.
“We are really looking forward to competing with them,” Ten Hag says of that looming Liverpool clash. “We have a good squad, we can bring a good team out. We have to improve, we have new players to integrate (but) we are looking forward to this game.”
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