Manchester United has faced numerous challenges this season. The Red Devils began the season with Erik ten Hag at the helm, a decision widely criticized at the time. United had a poor start, and after a defeat to West Ham in October, the club’s decision-makers opted to sack ten Hag.

Ruben Amorim replaced him, but the 40-year-old Portuguese coach has also faced difficulties. One major issue is that many of Manchester United’s current players do not fit his tactical system. Lineker believes one player could have been perfect for Amorim’s system—Scott McTominay—but the midfielder was sold by United under ten Hag just months before Amorim’s arrival.

Scott McTominay joined Manchester United’s academy at the age of five. The Scottish midfielder rose through the ranks and made his first-team debut in 2017 under José Mourinho. He played a total of 255 matches for United across all competitions and helped the club win the FA Cup and League Cup in his final two seasons.

In the summer of 2024, Napoli made a £25.7 million offer for the Scottish international, and the Red Devils accepted. Now, after witnessing United’s struggles this season, Lineker claims McTominay would have been an ideal fit for Amorim.

Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast: “We were talking about players who left Manchester United. Scott McTominay scored two more goals, one of them a fantastic strike for Napoli earlier this week.

It’s strange how some of the players who were there are now excelling elsewhere. It crossed my mind because McTominay is exactly the type of player I think would thrive in Amorim’s system. He’s what they need.

I know they were somewhat forced to sell him for financial reasons. He was also a homegrown player who came through the academy, which makes it all the more absurd—one of the ridiculous quirks of this rule. But yes, even Marcus Rashford seems like a completely different player now. So, the evidence suggests things are really broken at Manchester United right now.”