Update: ‘Nonsensical’ – Gary Lineker’s comment about Scott McTominay transfer deal says it all News

Scott McTominay has been a revelation for Napoli this season, with the midfielder scoring eight goals in Serie A so far after leaving Manchester United for £25million last year

Gary Lineker believes Manchester United made a grave error by offloading Scott McTominay, though he acknowledges that Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) left them with little choice.

The Scottish midfielder, sold to Napoli for £25million last summer, has been a revelation in Italy, notching eight Serie A goals and earning multiple man-of-the-match awards. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said McTominay would have been perfect in Ruben Amorim’s system, and slammed what he described as “nonsensical” regulations that effectively forced United to sell him.

“McTominay is exactly the player, I would say, that would work in an Amorim system. He’s what they need,” he said. “And I know they were forced to sell him because of this PSR and he’s a local lad, which we all think is a nonsensical and a ridiculous feature of this particular rule.”

As an academy product, McTominay’s transfer fee counted as ‘pure profit’ for United, helping them navigate PSR constraints. These regulations are pushing clubs across Europe to sell homegrown talents to balance their finances, a trend widely criticised as a flaw in the system.

This same pressure has sparked speculation about Kobbie Mainoo’s future, despite his once-untouchable status at Old Trafford. It also saw Alejandro Garnacho getting linked with a January exit.

United are currently languishing in 14th place in the Premier League, a stark contrast to McTominay’s thriving form at Napoli, who sit second in Serie A, trailing Inter Milan by three points. The Italian club, champions in 2023 but a disappointing 10th last season, are resurgent, with the Scot firing on all cylinders in their engine room.

“It’s remarkable how well some of the [former] United players are doing,” Lineker added, citing Marcus Rashford’s successful loan spell at Aston Villa as another example. The forward, who had endured a difficult last 18 months at United, has scored three goals and provided six assists during his short stint at Villa Park, leading many to wonder whether a reintroduction into Amorim’s squad could be on the cards.

Alan Shearer, however, doesn’t think so. “There’s no way [back] for him at Man United so long as Amorim’s there,” the Newcastle legend said, noting the challenge of selling him.

“How do they then sell him? Everyone knows the manager doesn’t want him… He’s on a fortune in terms of his contract. They’ve going to want some decent dough for him.”

Lineker added: “Rashford looks like a different human being. And it suggests, all the evidence is there, that it’s kind of a bit rotten at United at the moment.”

United are on the verge of their worst league finish in decades but have a chance to salvage pride in the Europa League. A dramatic 5-4 comeback win over Lyon in the quarter-final second leg, powered by late strikes from Bruno Fernandes, Mainoo, and Harry Maguire, secured a 7-6 aggregate triumph on Thursday.

They now face Athletic Club in the semi-finals, with the victor advancing to meet either Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt in the final. As for the Premier League, United welcome Wolves to Old Trafford on Sunday, before a trip to Bournemouth seven days later.