“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 demand for higher wages before signing his next contract was one of the reasons Manchester United decided to sell him this summer, according to journalist Miguel Delaney.

In his ‘Reading the Game’ newsletter on Friday, Delaney mentioned that aside from the financial profit from the sale, the club aimed to save more money by letting the Scotland international go.

Manchester United confirmed McTominay’s departure on the summer transfer deadline day, ending his 22-year association with the club. They have signed Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain as his replacement.

Manager Erik ten Hag expressed a desire to keep the 27-year-old, but the club was apparently unwilling to meet his wage demands. Delaney wrote, “United have been constrained this summer by previous contracts and the limits of Profit and Sustainability Rules. This led to the decision to sell Scott McTominay, despite the club’s reluctance.”

A source indicated that while McTominay was highly valued and seen as the best “12th man” at United, his status as an academy graduate made him one of the most sellable players. Coupled with his increased wage demands, the sale became the logical choice.

McTominay departs Manchester United with a strong legacy, having scored 29 goals and provided eight assists in 255 appearances across all competitions. He won one FA Cup, one Carabao Cup, and earned runners-up medals in the Europa League and FA Cup. He now looks to secure his first league title with Napoli under Antonio Conte, who has built a squad capable of challenging for major honors.