“He was asking for too much so we had to let him go. But we are definitely to sign a replacement for him soon” – This is according to Sir Jim Ratcliffe as Manchester United sold a star player after he requested higher wages as a condition for signing a new contract.

Scott McTominay’s request for a pay raise before renewing his contract was a key factor in Manchester United’s decision to sell him this summer, as reported by journalist Miguel Delaney.

In his ‘Reading the Game’ newsletter on Friday, Delaney highlighted that, beyond the financial gains from the transfer, the club aimed to cut costs by parting ways with the Scottish international.

Manchester United confirmed McTominay’s exit on the final day of the summer transfer window, marking the end of his 22-year journey with the club. They have brought in Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain as his replacement.

Manager Erik ten Hag reportedly wanted to retain the 27-year-old, but the club was apparently unwilling to meet his salary demands. Delaney noted, “United have faced financial constraints this summer due to previous contracts and the Profit and Sustainability Rules. This ultimately led to the decision to sell Scott McTominay, despite the club’s reluctance.”

A source revealed that while McTominay was highly regarded and considered the best “12th man” at United, his status as an academy graduate made him a valuable asset for sale. Combined with his increased wage demands, selling him became the most practical option.

McTominay leaves Manchester United with a commendable legacy, having scored 29 goals and provided eight assists in 255 appearances across all competitions. He won an FA Cup, a Carabao Cup, and earned runner-up medals in the Europa League and FA Cup. Now, he aims to secure his first league title with Napoli under Antonio Conte, who has assembled a squad capable of competing for major trophies.